What to know
- Influenza (flu) is more likely to cause illness that results in hospitalization in pregnant people than in people of reproductive age who are not pregnant.
- If you are pregnant and experience flu symptoms, call your health care provider right away.
- CDC recommends prompt flu antiviral treatment for people who are pregnant and who have flu infection or suspected flu infection.
Flu and Pregnancy
Flu also may be harmful for a pregnant person's developing baby. (A common flu symptom is fever, which has been associated in some studies with neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby.)
Getting the flu shot during pregnancy can protect the pregnant person from flu and flu related hospitalizations. Flu vaccination during pregnancy also can protect babies for several months after birth against flu and flu-related hospitalizations because the pregnant parent passes antibodies on to the developing baby during pregnancy. People who get a flu shot while pregnant or breastfeeding also develop antibodies against flu that they can share with their infants through their breast milk.
Pre-Existing Conditions
There is no recommendation that pregnant people or people with pre-existing medical conditions need to get special permission or written consent from their doctor or health care professional for flu vaccination if they get vaccinated at a worksite clinic, pharmacy or other location outside of their physician's office. Pregnant people should not get nasal spray flu vaccine.
Best timing for vaccination
For most adults, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated each year. Vaccination during July and August also can be considered for people who are in the third trimester of pregnancy during those months, because this can help protect their infants from flu for several months after birth (when they are too young to be vaccinated).
Vaccination is the best protection against flu
Getting a flu vaccine is the first and most important action a person can take to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. Pregnant people should get a flu shot and not the nasal spray flu vaccine.
- A 2013 study showed that during the 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 flu seasons vaccination reduced the risk of flu in pregnant people by up to one-half. These results are consistent with the general range of estimated flu vaccine effectiveness among adults 18-64 years.
- A 2018 study showed that getting a flu vaccine reduced a pregnant person's risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40%. Pregnant people who get a flu shot also are helping to protect their babies from flu illness and flu related hospitalizations for the first several months after their birth, when they are too young to get vaccinated.
Flu Vaccine Safety and Pregnancy
Flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant people over more than 50 years with an excellent safety record. There is substantial evidence that flu shots are safe during pregnancy for mom and baby. CDC and ACIP recommend that pregnant people get vaccinated during any trimester of their pregnancy.
Other Preventive Actions
In addition to getting a flu shot, pregnant people should take preventive actions including avoiding people who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands often. This also can include taking steps for cleaner air and hygiene practices like cleaning frequently touched surfaces.