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Medical Author:

Irina Petrache, MD

Medical Author:

Catherine Sears, MD

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Flu shot: Also called the influenza vaccine, this shot can help prevent you getting the flu. The risk of severe asthma attack is very high if you get the flu. Because a severe asthma attack can deprive the fetus of oxygen, the shot is recommended in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. (Its safety during the first trimester is more questionable.)

Allergy shots: If you took allergy shots before you became pregnant and had no severe reaction to the shots, you should continue the shots during pregnancy. However, you should not start allergy shots during pregnancy.

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