Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot Infographic

Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot Infographic (Text Version)

Results of CDC’s 2016-2017 internet panel survey of pregnant women.

Half of pregnant women protect themselves and their babies against the flu. Time to bump it up!

With only half of pregnant moms getting their flu shot, too many remain unprotected.

Flu shots help protect pregnant women and their babies from potentially serious illness during and after pregnancy.

During the 2016-2017 flu season, an estimated 50%* of pregnant women in the U.S. protected themselves and their babies from flu by getting a flu shot. While this is a significant improvement since the years before the 2009 pandemic, about half of pregnant women, and their babies, still remain unprotected from influenza.

We can do better. All pregnant women need flu shots to protect themselves and their babies.

[Illustration: Line graph of influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women aged 18-49 years**. The graph displays an increase of vaccination coverage during flu seasons from 2010-2011 flu season to the 2016-2017 flu season, with vaccination coverage rates leveling off to about 50 percent from the 2013-2014 to 2015-2016 flu seasons.]

If you’re pregnant, a flu shot:

is recommended at any time during pregnancy
can reduce your risk of getting sick from flu
can protect your baby from flu for several months after birth.

Pregnant women also need a whooping cough (Tdap) shot. Talk to your doctor.

Get vaccinated to protect yourself and your baby.

CDC logo.

*https://www.cdc.gov/flu/fluvaxview/pregnant-women-nov2016.htm

**Sources: 2007-2010 BRFSS, 2010-11-2016-17 Internet Panel Survey.

Top of Page

Page last reviewed: October 26, 2017

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)