In brief — the direct answer
During pregnancy, your immune system changes to tolerate the growing baby, making you more vulnerable to certain infections. Furthermore, when your baby is born, their immune system is incredibly immature. They are too young to receive their own vaccines for the first two to six months. By getting vaccinated while pregnant, you create protective antibodies that cross the placenta, providing your baby with a vital shield during their most vulnerable early months of life.
The Tdap Vaccine (Whooping Cough)
The Tdap vaccine protects against Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). Whooping Cough is highly contagious and can be life-threatening for newborns, who are too young to be vaccinated against it.
When to get it: It is recommended between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. You must get this vaccine during *every single pregnancy*, even if your previous pregnancies were close together. This maximizes the specific antibodies passed to each baby.
The Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Pregnant women are at a much higher risk of severe complications, hospitalization, and premature labor if they catch the flu. A high fever in the first trimester is also associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects.
When to get it: The flu shot is safe and recommended during any trimester of pregnancy. Ensure you get the 'inactivated' shot, not the nasal spray (which is a live vaccine).
The RSV Vaccine
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, in infants under six months, RSV can cause severe lung infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, frequently requiring NICU admission and oxygen therapy.
When to get it: A maternal RSV vaccine has been recently approved and is recommended between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to pass strong protection to the baby for their first winter season.
COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 infection during pregnancy carries a significantly higher risk of severe illness, ICU admission, and preterm birth compared to non-pregnant women. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been extensively studied in hundreds of thousands of pregnant women globally and have been proven safe and highly effective at preventing severe maternal disease. They can be given in any trimester.
Vaccines to Strictly Avoid
While 'inactivated' (dead) vaccines and toxoids are safe, Live-Attenuated Vaccines must be strictly avoided during pregnancy because there is a theoretical risk that the weakened virus could cross the placenta and infect the baby.
Do NOT get:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- Live attenuated Influenza (the nasal spray)
- Yellow Fever (unless traveling to an area with an unavoidable high-risk outbreak).
Are Vaccines Safe for the Baby?
Extensive, global medical research over decades confirms that the recommended vaccines are exceptionally safe for both the mother and the developing fetus. There is no evidence that vaccines cause autism or developmental delays. The risk lies entirely in remaining unvaccinated and contracting a preventable disease while pregnant.
Questions to ask your doctor
