Nobody wants to get the flu. Especially when you’re pregnant. But despite the safety of the vaccine, only half of pregnant women in the US are getting their flu shots. Well, here’s one more reason those opting to skip the vaccine might want to reconsider their decision: a recent study shows that influenza immunization was associated with a more than 50% reduction in stillbirths.

“There are more than 3 million stillborn infants each year worldwide, and in developed countries stillbirth accounts for 70% of perinatal deaths; confirmation of these findings would indicate that seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnancy has substantial perinatal health benefits,” according to the researchers. While additional studies are still needed, “These results may be useful for communicating the potential benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination to pregnant mothers and their providers,” they wrote. “Given the growing body of evidence supporting the health benefits to mother and infant, concerted efforts are needed to improve seasonal influenza vaccine coverage among pregnant women.”

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