Vaccines During Pregnancy

Vaccines are shots that help your body fight disease. Some vaccines are important to get during pregnancy. They protect you and also help protect your baby after birth. Most vaccines are safe in pregnancy. Not everyone needs every vaccine.  

Some shots your healthcare provider may talk to you about during pregnancy:

Flu

The flu is a virus that can cause pregnant people and newborn babies to be hospitalized. It spreads from person to person, typically through coughing or sneezing when in close contact with others. 

When you get the flu shot during pregnancy, you:  

• Are protected from the flu
• Pass antibodies to your baby to protect them for the first few months of life

The flu vaccine is safe for you and your baby anytime during pregnancy.

Tdap

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a very contagious disease that can be deadly for babies. It spreads from person to person, usually through coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others.  

When you get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, you:

• Are protected from whooping cough and tetanus
• Pass antibodies to your baby to protect them for the first few months of life

The Tdap vaccine is safe during pregnancy. Get it around 28 weeks so your baby is protected until they receive their first dose at two months old.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for unborn babies and pregnant people. It spreads from person to person by coughing, sneezing, talking, or just breathing while in close contact with others. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy can harm unborn babies and lead to pregnancy complications. You can also become very sick if you are infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy.  

When you get the COVID vaccine during pregnancy, you:

• Are protected from COVID infection
• Pass antibodies to your baby to protect them for the first few months of life

The COVID vaccine is safe for you and your baby at any time during pregnancy.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis is a serious disease that can infect unborn babies and pregnant people. It can cause problems with the liver. If you have hepatitis B, it can spread from you to your baby, but it also spreads from person to person if you share toothbrushes, razors, or needles or have sex with someone who is infected with hepatitis B.  

Not everyone needs a hepatitis B shot. A test can show if you have hepatitis B or if you need the vaccine.  

When you get the hepatitis B vaccine during pregnancy, you:

• Are protected from hepatitis B infection
• Protect your baby from getting hepatitis B infection in pregnancy

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can cause a mild cold in pregnant people, but it can cause newborn babies to be hospitalized. It spreads from person to person, typically through coughing or sneezing when in close contact with others.  

When you get the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, you:  

• Are protected from the flu
• Pass antibodies to your baby to protect them for the first few months of life

The RSV vaccine is safe for you and your baby during pregnancy. Get the shot between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy during RSV season (September-January).

Vaccines After Pregnancy

If you didn’t get vaccines during pregnancy, you can get them after your baby is born.  

There are some vaccines that are not recommended during pregnancy, but you can get them safely after your baby is born:

• Chickenpox (varicella) shot
• Measles, mumps, and rubella shot

Routine vaccines are safe when you are breastfeeding.  

Your baby will get vaccines after birth and during their well-baby visits.