Immunization Information For Pregnant People

Vaccines help keep you and your growing family healthy. It’s important to make sure your immunizations are up to date. The flu and other vaccine-preventable diseases pose risks to you and your unborn baby.

What You Should Do Before Pregnancy

Know Your Vaccination History

Your primary care provider should have a record of all the immunizations you have gotten. Sharing this information with your preconception or prenatal healthcare professional will help them decide which vaccines you’ll need during pregnancy. If your healthcare professional does not have a current record of your immunizations:

• Ask your parents or other caregivers if they still have your school immunization records. Ask them which childhood illnesses you’ve already had.
• Contact your pediatrician's practice to see if they have any information.

Even if you can’t track down your records, your healthcare professional can still protect your health and that of your unborn baby by recommending vaccines that are right for you.

Protect Yourself Against Rubella with the MMR Vaccine

The best protection against rubella is the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. If you aren't up to date with the MMR vaccine, you'll need to get it before you get pregnant. Make sure you have a pre-pregnancy blood test to find out if you’re immune to the disease. Most people were vaccinated with the MMR vaccine as children, but you can confirm with your primary care provider or other healthcare professional. The MMR vaccine should be given at least one month before pregnancy.

Vaccines During Pregnancy

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is safe and very important for pregnant people. A pregnant person who gets the flu is at risk for serious complications. Pregnant people with the flu also have greater chances for serious problems for their unborn babies. These include premature labor and delivery.

Pregnant people can get the flu shot at any time, during any trimester. In addition, because babies younger than 6 months of age are too young to get flu vaccine, it’s important that everyone who cares for a baby also gets a flu vaccine.

Although some people can be vaccinated against the flu with a nasal spray, this has not been approved for pregnant people. Pregnant people must get flu shots.

Tdap Vaccine

The Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria. A dose of Tdap is recommended for all pregnant people during each pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks. The Tdap vaccine is safe for pregnant people and their babies, and it won't increase the risk of pregnancy complications.

COVID-19 Vaccine

If a person is pregnant or was recently pregnant, they’re more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increases the risk of complications that can affect pregnancy and the developing baby. 

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is the best protection against serious illness and complications from infection for you and your baby. You can get your updated COVID-19 vaccine at any point during your pregnancy. 

RSV Vaccine

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of severe respiratory illness in infants. Nearly every child will get RSV by the time they are 2 years old. Babies infected with RSV can have trouble breathing and eating and sometimes may need respiratory support. 

There are 2 ways to protect your baby from RSV: 

1. You can choose to get RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of your pregnancy from September to January

or

2. Your baby age 8 months or younger can get an RSV vaccine during their first RSV season, from October to March

Hepatitis B Vaccine

If you are pregnant and not already vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB), you should be vaccinated with HepB during pregnancy. It’s recommended that all adults age 19-59 get HepB vaccination.

Vaccines After Pregnancy 

It’s safe for pregnant people to get vaccines right after giving birth, even while breastfeeding. A person who has not gotten vaccinated against Tdap should get it right after delivery. A person who is not immune to MMR and/or varicella, which prevents chickenpox, should get those vaccinations before leaving the hospital.

Anyone in Close Contact with Your Baby Should Be Up to Date on Their Vaccinations

Newborns do not yet have fully developed immune systems, which makes them vulnerable to infections. Older kids and adults can spread viruses to babies, even if they don't feel sick. It’s therefore recommended that adults and adolescents who will be around infants are up to date with recommended vaccines. This could include parents, siblings, grandparents, babysitters, and other childcare providers. 

Anyone who needs vaccines should get them at least 2 weeks before meeting the baby because it takes about 2 weeks to develop antibodies after vaccination.