Vaccines during pregnancy can protect both parent and fetus from serious infections. Examples of the vaccinations doctors usually recommend include Tdap, the flu vaccine, and a COVID-19 booster.

Pregnancy alters the immune system, making it more likely that people will get serious symptoms from certain infections. Sometimes serious infections can lead to pregnancy complications.

Vaccines can reduce this risk and can also boost the immunity of the baby from birth. However, not all vaccinations are safe during pregnancy.

Read on to learn more about the vaccines that are beneficial, which to avoid, and when to get them.

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In the United States, doctors recommend several vaccines for pregnant individuals, including:

The following sections explore these vaccines in more detail.

Tdap vaccine

The Tdap vaccine protects against three bacterial diseases that can be very serious in children. They are:

When a person receives Tdap during pregnancy, their body begins making antibodies for these bacteria, giving them protection should they contract the bacteria in the future.

However, these antibodies also pass to the fetus, giving them immunity from all three conditions, too.

Doctors recommend administering a dose of the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, ideally early in the third trimester.

Flu vaccine

People who are pregnant or postpartum are more likely to get severe flu symptoms and complications than others. The seasonal flu vaccine reduces this risk.

The flu vaccine works by stimulating the body’s immune system so that it knows how to respond to the newest strains of flu virus circulating during a given flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that people who are or will be pregnant during flu season receive either the inactivated influenza vaccine or recombinant influenza vaccine. These vaccines contain no living virus.

Doctors should not give the live attenuated influenza vaccine during pregnancy. It contains a live but weakened form of flu virus, which could theoretically pose a risk to the fetus.

COVID-19 booster

Pregnant people are at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 than people who are not pregnant.

As a result, the CDC recommends that individuals should stay up to date with COVID-19 booster vaccines if they are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if they are nursing.

Some people may feel hesitant about getting a vaccine that is still relatively new. However, a 2024 study involving over 100,000 babies in Sweden and Norway found that exposure to the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy did not have any association with negative outcomes after birth.

In most situations, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks of getting COVID-19.

RSV vaccine

RSV is a common cause of serious respiratory infections in babies. People can get an RSV vaccine during pregnancy, which will protect the baby from birth onwards.

Alternatively, babies can receive an RSV vaccination after birth if they are under 8 months old during their first RSV season.

While some vaccines are safe during pregnancy, there are others people should avoid. These include:

Some of these vaccines contain weakened live microbes. Outside of pregnancy they usually do not cause problems, but because the microbes could affect the fetus, doctors do not generally give them to pregnant people.

Other vaccines on this list have little data showing they are safe for use during pregnancy, which is why doctors will usually try to avoid giving them.

If a person needs one of these vaccines, or they had one of them before finding out they were pregnant, they should speak with a doctor.

Typically, doctors recommend the following schedule for vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy:

Before pregnancy

If possible, people should aim to get the following vaccines at least 1 month prior to conceiving if they have not had them already:

  • MMR
  • varicella (chickenpox)

Similarly, people who have recently received travel vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine, should wait at least 4 weeks before conceiving.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, people should get:

  • a COVID-19 booster at any time
  • the flu vaccine at any time if their pregnancy overlaps with flu season
  • a Tdap vaccination between weeks 27 and 36 of gestation in each pregnancy
  • an RSV vaccination between weeks 32 and 36 if this occurs between September and January

Alternatively, people can immunize the baby during their first RSV season if they are 8 months or younger.

After pregnancy

It is safe to receive vaccines postpartum, even while breastfeeding. The only exception to this is the yellow fever vaccine. If a person needs this vaccine for travel that they cannot postpone, they should speak with a doctor.

Under certain circumstances, a doctor may recommend additional vaccines during pregnancy. This could be because a person:

  • is at high risk for serious infections
  • has had potential exposure to harmful bacteria or viruses
  • is traveling to certain locations and cannot postpone their trip

For example, those at high risk of the following conditions may receive the:

Sometimes doctors also use vaccines as an emergency treatment. This may be necessary if a person becomes exposed to uncommon but potentially dangerous microbes, such as those that cause rabies, anthrax, or smallpox.

Travel vaccines and pregnancy

Certain vaccines may be necessary if a person is pregnant and needs to travel abroad. However, both parents and healthcare professionals need to consider this decision carefully.

Some travel vaccines sometimes contain live organisms. Others have not undergone testing in pregnant people. A doctor may suggest certain ones if the risk of getting the infection outweighs any potential risk of the vaccine. This could include:

  • yellow fever
  • typhoid
  • JE

The vaccines that doctors recommend during pregnancy are safe for parent and fetus.

Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) monitors vaccine safety in the United States and has been collecting data on any adverse outcomes since 1990. To date, it has found no evidence that Tdap has associations with:

  • neurological conditions
  • allergies
  • blood disorders
  • chronic illness

Research has found no association between COVID-19 vaccination and adverse outcomes in newborns, and it does not increase the risk of pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, or stillbirth.

A 2021 study in Canada that involved following over 28,000 children over the first few years of life reached similar conclusions.

Specifically, the study found no association between the flu vaccine and health conditions, including:

  • asthma
  • tumors
  • sensory impairments
  • early childhood infections
  • emergency department visits

It also notes that previous research has found no link with autism, epilepsy, or meningitis.

Most people who receive vaccines get mild or no side effects. If they do experience side effects, they often get better on their own in a few days.

The most common side effects of Tdap, COVID-19 boosters, and the flu vaccine are:

  • pain or swelling in the arm
  • tiredness
  • body aches

Occasionally, people can also have a mild fever. This can be a side effect that requires treatment in pregnant people. If a person experiences fever at any time, they should contact a doctor. They may give acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce it.

Below are some frequently asked questions about vaccines during pregnancy.

What is the 3-in-1 vaccine?

The 3-in-1 vaccine is another name for the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, or whooping cough.

Is Tdap necessary during pregnancy?

Yes, if a person wants to protect their baby from whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria, a Tdap vaccine is necessary during each pregnancy.

Vaccines during pregnancy are an important part of prenatal care, offering protection against infectious diseases for both the pregnant individual and the fetus.

While doctors recommend certain vaccines during pregnancy, individuals should approach others with caution.

Consultation with a healthcare professional is important to help ensure a person gets the vaccinations they need and at the right time.