Why immunization matters in pregnancy#
Some infectious diseases can cause serious harm to pregnant women or their unborn babies. Immunization is one of the best ways to protect both of you. Serious side effects or allergic reactions to vaccines are rare.
If you are planning to have a baby, try to get up to date with your routine immunizations before you become pregnant.
Infections that can harm pregnancy#
Examples of infections that can be harmful during pregnancy include:
- COVID-19 – the risk of severe illness is significantly higher for pregnant women
- rubella – can cause defects in the baby’s brain, heart, eyes and ears, and increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth
- chickenpox – can cause defects in the baby’s brain, eyes, skin and limbs
- measles and mumps – increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth
- hepatitis B – can cause acute infection that you may pass on to your baby during birth, and both of you could then become long-term carriers if the virus is not cleared from the body
- influenza – can cause serious complications in pregnant women that may also affect the baby
Reducing your risk during pregnancy#
As well as being immunized, you can lower your chance of catching infections during pregnancy by:
- avoiding close contact with people who are sick
- washing your hands regularly
- taking care with international travel
Before pregnancy#
If you are planning for a baby:
- visit your doctor for a health check-up
- your doctor may order a blood test to check your immunity to some diseases (such as rubella and hepatitis B) and recommend vaccination based on the results
- if you are not up to date with your routine immunizations, ask about catch-up doses
- avoid becoming pregnant for at least one month after having the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the chickenpox vaccine
Being fully immunized before pregnancy reduces the risk of illness and birth defects in a future pregnancy. You can also ask everyone else living in your home to keep their immunizations up to date, which lowers the chance of them passing infections on to you and your baby.
During pregnancy#
Having the influenza, whooping cough (pertussis) and RSV vaccines during pregnancy is one of the best ways to protect your unborn baby. When you are immunized, your antibodies transfer to your developing baby, giving them protection in the first months of life when they are too young to be vaccinated themselves. There is no evidence that these vaccines harm the unborn baby.
Whooping cough: The whooping cough vaccine given in pregnancy is a combination vaccine, sometimes called the three-in-one dTpa vaccine, which protects against whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria and tetanus. It is usually recommended during pregnancy; your doctor will advise on the best timing.
RSV: RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is very common but can be serious. Almost all infants and children catch RSV at least once within their first two years of life. It can cause severe respiratory infections such as bronchiolitis (infection of the small airways in the lungs), pneumonia (infection of the lungs) and croup. RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization in infants under 6 months of age, even those who are otherwise healthy. RSV immunization during pregnancy helps protect a newborn baby. Advice about repeat RSV immunization in later pregnancies is not yet available and will be provided when more data exists.
COVID-19: You can have a COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant.
After pregnancy#
If you did not get the chance to bring your routine immunizations up to date before becoming pregnant, see your doctor after you have given birth. It is safe to be immunized while you are breastfeeding, and this will not harm your baby. Immunization from an early age is highly recommended for all children, and having your baby immunized helps protect them from the most serious childhood infections, some of which can be life-threatening.
Working out what you need (HALO)#
The immunizations you may need depend on your health, age, lifestyle and occupation – together known as HALO. Talk to your doctor or immunization provider if you think you, or someone in your care, may need immunization based on these factors.
Key points#
- Some infectious diseases can cause serious harm to pregnant women or their unborn babies.
- Try to get your routine immunizations up to date before you become pregnant.
- Infections such as rubella, chickenpox, measles, mumps, hepatitis B, influenza and COVID-19 can harm pregnancy.
- Influenza, whooping cough and RSV vaccines given during pregnancy pass protective antibodies to your baby for the first months of life.
- It is safe to be immunized while breastfeeding, and childhood immunization is highly recommended for all children.
Where to get help#
Sources & further reading
For evidence-based global guidance on this topic, consult authoritative public-health bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, NHS, and ECDC.