Vaccinations during pregnancy

When you find out you’re pregnant, your health decisions don’t only affect you – they affect your growing baby, too. Receiving certain vaccinations during your pregnancy protects both you and your baby. Vaccines help to prevent illnesses that could cause serious health complications and potentially be life-threatening.

At Aurora Health Care, we walk you through the vaccines you need to keep you and your baby safe throughout your pregnancy. We offer routine pregnancy care, including vaccinations, in multiple convenient locations throughout Wisconsin. You have easy access to the care you need, when and where you need it.

Is it safe to get a vaccine while pregnant?

It’s safe to get certain vaccines during pregnancy and unsafe to get others. Your provider will recommend which vaccines you need during pregnancy.

Generally, it’s safe to get mRNA vaccines, such as the COVID vaccine, and inactive vaccines, which contain dead viruses or bacteria. It’s unsafe to get live vaccines, which contain weakened germs.

Why are vaccines during pregnancy important?

When you get a vaccine, your body makes proteins called antibodies. These antibodies help your immune system fight certain illnesses, protecting you from serious or potentially life-threatening complications.

When you're pregnant, getting vaccinated doesn’t only protect you. The antibodies you make pass through your placenta and help to protect your baby as well.

What vaccines do pregnant women need?

Your provider may recommend specific vaccines based on your age, health risks, travel plans and vaccination record. Generally, most pregnant women need at least two vaccinations when pregnant:

• Flu vaccine: All women who are pregnant during flu season, between October and February, should get the annual flu shot. Protecting yourself from the flu during pregnancy is important because getting sick can increase your risk of preterm labor and birth.
• Tdap vaccine: Regardless of whether you’ve had the Tdap or Td vaccine before, health care providers recommend getting the Tdap vaccine while pregnant. The Tdap vaccine protects against pertussis (whooping cough), diphtheria and tetanus.

You may also need the COVID vaccine, depending on when you had your last shot. It helps protect your baby from severe COVID complications in their first months of life, before they can safely get vaccinated for COVID at 6 months old.

If you’ll be between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant during RSV season, your provider will also recommend you get the RSV vaccine. This shot will help create antibodies that will be shared with your baby before they’re born, which can help protect them against severe RSV once they’re born.

Why is the Tdap vaccine necessary during pregnancy?

The Tdap vaccine is essential for protecting your baby against whooping cough. Whooping cough is a severe illness that can be life-threatening, especially when your baby is less than 6 months old. Getting the Tdap vaccine while pregnant protects your baby during their first 6 months of life until they can safely get vaccinated for whooping cough.

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: pertussis, diphtheria and tetanus.

Vaccination schedule during pregnancy

Your provider will tell you when to get any necessary vaccinations throughout your pregnancy. In general, you should get:

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

What vaccines should pregnant women not get?

The vaccines you shouldn’t get while pregnant include:

• 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 gotten them already, your provider may recommend getting some of these vaccines before you get pregnant. Speak with your health care provider about what vaccines you need if you plan to become pregnant.

When should I get the COVID vaccine during pregnancy?

The CDC recommends COVID vaccination during pregnancy. Depending on when you had your last shot, your provider may recommend getting the vaccine. They will let you know when you should get vaccinated during your pregnancy. It’s safe to get other vaccines at the same time as the COVID vaccine.

Are vaccines safe to get while breastfeeding?

Yes, you can get most vaccines immediately after giving birth and when breastfeeding. Ask your provider if you need any vaccines after pregnancy.