Vaccinations for expectant moms.
Vaccines to Check Before and During Pregnancy If you are planning a pregnancy or are already pregnant, it is a good idea to review your vaccination history. Vaccines recommended during pregnancy and their timing can vary by country, your previous vaccinations, and your individual health needs. First, pertussis (whooping cough) Whooping cough is a respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It can cause severe, prolonged coughing and can be particularly dangerous for newborns who are too young to begin their own pertussis vaccination series. Many countries therefore recommend a Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) during pregnancy. Antibodies produced by the mother cross the placenta and help protect the baby during the first months of life. The recommended timing varies by country, so follow your local maternity vaccination schedule. In countries that recommend maternal Tdap, it is usually given during every pregnancy, even if you have received Tdap before. Tdap is a non-live vaccine and can be given during pregnancy. Family members and other people who will have close contact with the newborn should also make sure their pertussis vaccinations are up to date according to local recommendations. Second, hepatitis B Hepatitis B can spread through blood and body fluids, sexual contact, and from an infected mother to her baby around the time of birth. However, hepatitis B vaccination is not something every pregnant person automatically needs to repeat. Your healthcare provider should consider your hepatitis B test results, previous vaccination history, and risk factors. If you are unvaccinated or need protection because of your risk of infection, hepatitis B vaccination can be given during pregnancy when appropriate. A negative antibody result alone does not always mean that a fully vaccinated healthy adult needs to be revaccinated, so vaccination history and blood test results should be reviewed together. If your partner has hepatitis B and you are not immune, vaccination may be particularly important. If a pregnant person has hepatitis B infection, appropriate preventive care for the baby immediately after birth is essential. Third, influenza (flu) Pregnant people have a higher risk of serious complications from influenza, so flu vaccination during pregnancy is recommended in many countries. An inactivated influenza vaccine or another non-live flu vaccine approved for pregnancy can generally be given during any trimester. The exact programme and timing may vary by country. It is still possible to get influenza after vaccination. If you develop symptoms of flu during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider promptly. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) may be used during pregnancy when treatment is indicated, and early treatment is often important.