Pregnancy & Vaccines
Getting certain vaccines while you are pregnant helps protect both you and your baby.
When to get vaccinated
Getting recommended vaccines while you are pregnant helps protect both you and your baby from potentially serious diseases.
Before pregnancy
- Talk to your provider about which vaccines you need so you can be up-to-date before you get pregnant.
- MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines: Complete these vaccines at least one month or more before pregnancy, unless you’re already protected. These vaccines should not be given during pregnancy.
During pregnancy
- Tdap vaccine: Get during weeks 27 through 36 (preferably during the earlier part of this time) with each pregnancy to help protect against whooping cough.
- Flu vaccine: Get if you are pregnant during flu season. If possible, it is best to get the flu shot by the end of October. CDC recommends annual vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older.
- COVID-19 vaccine: Get if you are pregnant and not up to date on your COVID-19 vaccine. CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older.
- RSV: There are two ways to protect your baby from getting very sick with RSV. You can choose to get RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of your pregnancy during September to January, or your baby aged 8 months or younger can get RSV immunization during their first RSV season.
After childbirth
- It’s safe to receive vaccines after giving birth, even while you are breastfeeding.
- Talk to your provider about which vaccines you need to be up to date.
Vaccines you need during pregnancy
Whooping cough can be dangerous for your baby, and you may not even know they have it. Getting the whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) in the third trimester of each pregnancy helps protect your baby.
Catching flu when you are pregnant can lead to serious pregnancy complications for you and your baby.
Although the overall risks are low, if you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. Additionally, if you have COVID-19 during pregnancy, you are at increased risk of complications that can affect your pregnancy and developing baby. Get 1 dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against serious illness from COVID-19.
RSV is a common cause of severe respiratory illness in infants. Babies infected with RSV can have difficulty breathing and eating, and sometimes may need respiratory support or hydration in the hospital. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy or getting your baby immunized can help protect them from RSV.
Other vaccines you may need
The need for other vaccines such as hepatitis A, pneumococcal, meningococcal, HPV and others may be recommended if you did not get the vaccines when younger, have certain health conditions, work in a lab, or travel to countries with increased risk of exposure to the vaccine-preventable disease.
Talk to your doctor at least 4 to 6 weeks before international travel to discuss any special precautions or vaccines that you may need.
Talk to your doctor about getting tested for hepatitis B and about hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for all adults without prior hepatitis B vaccination.