Immunizations during Pregnancy

Immunizations during Pregnancy

Immunizations, or vaccines, can help to keep you healthy. They can also protect your baby from some diseases until your baby is old enough to safely receive them. If you are pregnant or you are planning a pregnancy, the vaccines that you need are determined by:

• Your age.
• Your lifestyle.
• Your medical history.
• Your travel plans.
• Your previous vaccines.

The benefits of receiving immunizations during pregnancy usually outweigh the risks:

• When the risk of being exposed to a disease is high.
• When infection would pose a risk to you or your unborn baby.
• When the vaccine is not likely to cause harm.

Should I receive immunizations before pregnancy?

If possible, make sure that your vaccines are up to date before you become pregnant. It is safe and important for you to receive weakened viral and weakened bacterial (inactivated) vaccines, as needed, before you are pregnant. Live viral and live bacterial (attenuated) vaccines should be given 1 month or more before pregnancy. Some examples of attenuated vaccines include:

• Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).
• Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
• Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV).
• Rotavirus (RV5 or RV1).
• Smallpox.
• Typhoid (Ty21a, oral capsule form of the vaccine).
• Varicella (VAR).
• Shingles.
• Yellow fever (YF).

If you become pregnant within 1 month after you have received an attenuated vaccine, contact your health care provider.

Should I receive immunizations during pregnancy?

It is safe and important for you to receive inactivated vaccines as needed during pregnancy. Until your baby can receive vaccines, your baby will get some protection from diseases through the vaccines that you receive while you are pregnant.

However, some inactivated vaccines have not been thoroughly studied in pregnant women, and at this time, they are not recommended during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. One example is the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). In addition, the human papillomavirus (HPV4 or HPV2) vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy.

You should receive inactivated influenza (IIV) and adult tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines during your pregnancy.

The IIV, which is known as “the flu shot,” will protect you and your baby (up to 6 months of age) from some complications and strains of influenza. Pregnant women can receive IIV at any time and during any trimester.

The Tdap vaccine will help to prevent whooping cough (pertussis) in you and your baby. You should receive 1 dose of this vaccine during each pregnancy. It is recommended that pregnant women receive this vaccine during the 27th–36th weeks of pregnancy.

Usually, attenuated vaccines are not given to pregnant women. There is a possible risk of passing the vaccine virus or bacteria to the unborn baby. If you are pregnant and you received an attenuated vaccine, contact your health care provider.

Should I receive immunizations after pregnancy?

It is safe and important for you to receive vaccines as needed after pregnancy. This is true even if you are breastfeeding. If you did not receive the Tdap vaccine during your pregnancy, you should receive that vaccine right after you give birth to your baby (delivery). If you are not immune to measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella, you should receive the MMR or MMRV vaccine within days after delivery. Most other vaccines are also safe to receive after pregnancy.

What if I am pregnant and I plan to travel internationally?

If you are pregnant and you are planning to travel internationally, talk with your health care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip.

Discuss precautions or vaccine options. Before you receive vaccines, the risk of disease and immunization should always be determined.

Immunizations that are recommended for pregnant international travelers include:

• Hepatitis B (HepB).
• IIV.
• Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) or Tdap.
• Hepatitis A (HepA).

Immunizations that should be delayed or given only when benefits outweigh the risk of disease exposure for pregnant international travelers include:

• Japanese encephalitis (JE).
• Meningococcal meningitis (MPSV4 or MCV4).
• PPSV23.
• Inactivated polio (IPV).
• Rabies.
• Typhoid.
• YF.

Immunizations that should not be given to pregnant international travelers include:

• Tuberculosis (BCG).
• MMR.
• MMRV.
• HPV4 or HPV2.
• VAR.
• LAIV.