ARE VACCINES SAFE?

The short answer is, yes! Vaccines help protect you and your developing baby. Babies get antibodies from moms during pregnancy, and vaccines help you create antibodies for disease immunity. These immunities help protect the babies from some diseases during the first few months of life.

WHICH VACCINES ARE RECOMMENDED DURING PREGNANCY?

We recommend the whooping cough (also known as Tdap) and the flu vaccines during pregnancy.

Whooping cough is serious enough for adults, but it can be life-threatening for newborns. The CDC recommends getting a whooping cough shot between weeks 27-36 of pregnancy so the body can create protective antibodies to pass to the baby before birth.

The flu affects pregnant women more seriously than others, possibly due to changes in your immune, heart and lung functions. The flu shot can be administered any time during your pregnancy and will help protect mom and baby for several months after birth.

We also recommend that all pregnant patients get vaccinated against COVID-19. Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant patients.

Other vaccines that may be needed during your pregnancy include Hepatitis A and B. Travel-related vaccines may also be needed. Talk to your doctor if you plan to travel internationally while pregnant.