Vaccination is an important part of pregnancy care because some infections can cause more serious illness during pregnancy. Certain vaccines can also provide antibodies that offer a newborn early protection after birth.
Tdap, influenza and COVID-19 vaccines are among the vaccines that may be recommended during pregnancy. CDC guidance recommends Tdap during every pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks, to help protect newborns against whooping cough.
The inactivated flu vaccine can be given during pregnancy and is recommended during flu season. Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from influenza, making vaccination an important preventive measure. The live nasal flu vaccine, however, should not be used during pregnancy.
For COVID-19 vaccination, current CDC information says vaccination can be given during pregnancy and that studies involving more than one million pregnant women have not identified increased health risks for pregnant women or their babies. Current recommendations use an individual decision-making approach, so pregnant women should discuss vaccination with their healthcare provider.
Some vaccines are generally not given during pregnancy, particularly live vaccines. These include MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), varicella (chickenpox) and live attenuated influenza vaccine. HPV vaccination is also generally deferred until after pregnancy.
If a woman receives a vaccine before discovering she is pregnant, she should inform her doctor rather than panic or assume that the pregnancy is at risk. Further doses, when necessary, can be planned based on medical guidance.
Vaccine recommendations can depend on a woman's health, travel plans, exposure risks and local immunisation guidelines. Pregnant women should therefore discuss their vaccination history and upcoming vaccines with their obstetrician or healthcare provider.