"In pregnancy your body is in a compromised state where you're not as easily able to fight off infection," Dr. Megan Prickett said.

 

Elizabeth Lange is expecting her second child. She says getting the vaccine is important to not only keep her healthy, but her entire family. "It's important for me to stay healthy so I'm not bringing it home to my family or anything like that. I'm not bringing anything from my house into the workplace and I'm protecting myself from other people who could potentially be carrying the flu virus with them," Elizabeth Lange said.

 

Health experts say pregnant women are at a greater risk for getting the flu because of changes to their immune system. "Anytime women have an infection they're increased risk of going into preterm labor would be the primary thing were concerned about," Dr. Prickett said.

 

But a word of caution: Dr. Megan Prickett says the flu shot is much safer than the flu mist because the mist is a live virus. "If they get a live virus they could harm the pregnancy."