Vaccinations during pregnancy

When you become pregnant, your health decisions affect both you and your baby. Getting certain vaccines during pregnancy can help protect you and your child from serious health complications and potentially life-threatening illnesses.

At Advocate Health Care, we provide personalized recommendations to keep you and your baby safe throughout your pregnancy. We offer pregnancy care and vaccinations in multiple convenient locations throughout the Chicago metro area. You have easy access to the care you need, when and where you need it.

Is it safe to get a vaccine while pregnant?

Some vaccines are safe to get during pregnancy, while others aren’t. In general, you can get mRNA vaccines, such as the COVID vaccine, and inactive vaccines (ones that contain dead viruses or bacteria). You shouldn’t get vaccines that contain live, weakened viruses or bacteria.

Why are vaccinations during pregnancy important?

When you get a vaccine, your body creates proteins (antibodies) that help your immune system fight a specific disease. Antibodies build your immunity and help protect you from getting severe, potentially life-threatening illnesses.

When you’re pregnant, vaccines don’t just protect you – they protect your unborn baby, too. The antibodies your body creates pass through the placenta and help boost your baby’s immune system as well as help build immunity to certain illnesses.

Can vaccines harm the fetus?

Vaccines recommended during pregnancy are intended to protect mom and baby by helping to build immunity. Your health care provider can help you manage your vaccination schedule and ensure you’re receiving the correct vaccinations during pregnancy.

What are the routinely recommended vaccinations during pregnancy?

The specific vaccines you need depend on several factors, including your age, health risks, travel plans and vaccination history. In general, most pregnant women need two routine vaccines during pregnancy:

• Flu vaccine: You should get the flu vaccine if you are pregnant between October and February, when the flu virus is most rampant. It’s important to get the flu vaccine because catching the flu while pregnant increases your risk of preterm labor and delivery.
• Tdap vaccine: The Tdap vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. Even if you have had a Tdap or Td vaccine before, health care providers recommend getting the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.

Your provider may also recommend the COVID vaccine. Getting the COVID vaccine before or during pregnancy can help protect your baby from severe forms of COVID before they can safely get a COVID vaccination at 6 months old.

If you’re expecting during RSV season and are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnancy, it’s recommended that you also receive the RSV vaccine. The RSV vaccine helps protect your baby from severe RSV once they’re born by encouraging your immune system to share antibodies with your baby while you’re still pregnant.

Side effects of vaccinations during pregnancy

The side effects from the vaccines you receive while pregnant are usually mild and resolve on their own within a few days. You can expect to feel some temporary side effects such as:

• Soreness around the injection site
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches

These side effects are normal immune responses and will not harm the fetus.

Why is the Tdap vaccine necessary during pregnancy?

The Tdap vaccine is vital for protecting your baby. When you get the Tdap vaccine, you create antibodies that pass to your baby and prevent them from getting whooping cough.

The Tdap vaccine is especially important because whooping cough is the most severe and potentially life-threatening illness that can occur within your baby’s first six months of life. Getting the Tdap vaccine protects your baby during those first six months before they can safely get vaccinated.

What is the 3-in-1 vaccine for pregnancy?

You may hear the Tdap vaccine referred to as a 3-in-1 vaccine. That’s because it protects against three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough.

What’s the schedule for vaccinations during pregnancy?

Your provider will give you specific guidance about when to get vaccinations during pregnancy. In general, you should get:

• Flu shot by the end of October to protect you and your baby during peak flu season
• Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy

Which vaccinations should you avoid if you’re pregnant?

Health care providers advise against getting certain vaccines while pregnant:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
• Yellow fever, typhoid fever or Japanese encephalitis vaccine, which may be part of travel vaccinations

If you haven’t received all your routine vaccines, talk with your health care provider about catching up. Some vaccines should be given before you become pregnant and not during your pregnancy.

When should I get the COVID vaccine during pregnancy?

Your provider may recommend getting the COVID vaccine during pregnancy. Pregnant women are more likely to have severe symptoms of COVID, so vaccination is important for protection.

There’s no specific time during pregnancy when doctors routinely recommend COVID immunization. It depends on when you last received the COVID vaccine. You can get the COVID vaccine along with other immunizations.

Are vaccines safe to get while breastfeeding?

Most vaccines are safe to get while you’re breastfeeding. Your health care provider can tell you whether you need any routine vaccines after you give birth.