Vaccines During Pregnancy, Explained Without the Jargon

Newborns are too young for some vaccines, so antibodies made during pregnancy are their main protection against whooping cough, flu and RSV in the first months of life.

Key takeaways

• Tdap (whooping cough): during every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks
• Flu shot: any trimester during flu season; the shot, not the nasal spray
• Most useful single change: Ask at a prenatal visit which vaccines you are due for and when.
• Commonest mistake: Skipping Tdap because you had it in a previous pregnancy; it is recommended every time.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

The short answer

Vaccines given in pregnancy to protect the pregnant person and to pass antibodies to the baby before birth.

Where it fits

This is part of Pregnancy. The figures come first, because the advice only makes sense against them.

The numbers, in one place

What that means in practice

What that looks like in practice:

• Ask at a prenatal visit which vaccines you are due for and when
• Get your flu shot as soon as it is available in the fall if you are pregnant during flu season
• Ask family members and caregivers who will be around the baby to be up to date on their vaccines
• If you do not get the RSV vaccine in pregnancy, ask your baby's doctor about an RSV antibody shot for the baby

What gets people into trouble

The pitfalls worth knowing about:

• Skipping Tdap because you had it in a previous pregnancy; it is recommended every time
• Getting live vaccines while pregnant
• Relying on social media for vaccine safety information instead of your clinician or pharmacist

Related topics

• What the Guidance Really Says About Vaccination in Pregnancy (Vaccinations)
• The Evidence on Vaccination in Older Adults, Without the Hype (Healthy Aging)
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Infectious Diseases)
• Childhood Vaccinations: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Children's Health)

Where to go next

• Vaccines During Pregnancy: What the Evidence Actually Says
• Vaccines During Pregnancy: The Practical To-Do List
• Vaccines During Pregnancy — the reference entry
• Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Complete Guide
• Postpartum Depression: What Published Guidance Supports
• The Evidence on Breastfeeding Basics, Without the Hype

When to speak to a doctor

Call your provider for a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher or symptoms that worry you after a vaccine. Call 911 for signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing or a fast heartbeat with dizziness.

Where this comes from

• CDC — Pregnancy and Vaccination
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Maternal Immunization

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.