Vaccines Health Center
Immunizations and Pregnancy - Topic Overview
Your immunity protects both you and your fetus. After you have been immunized (vaccinated) against or infected by a virus or bacteria, your body develops an immunity to that infectious agent. Full immunity can protect you from future infection, either for a lifetime or a limited period. Partial immunity strengthens your body's ability to fight that infection.
Before you become pregnant, be sure to review your immunization history with your doctor. Depending on the virus or bacteria, having had an immunization in childhood may not guarantee that you now have full immunity. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, make sure that you are immune to the following before conceiving:
Before pregnancy: Rubella, measles, mumps, chickenpox, whooping cough
Rubella, measles, mumps, and chickenpox can harm a growing fetus. They can cause birth defects, fetal death, or premature birth. Chickenpox can also be dangerous for you when you're pregnant.
Whooping cough (pertussis) would be dangerous if your baby were to get it after birth. It is most serious in babies younger than 4 months of age and can be deadly.
If you don't know whether you're immune to rubella, measles, or chickenpox, talk to your doctor about a blood test for antibodies to that virus. If you aren't immune, have the vaccination before becoming pregnant. To allow time for your body to develop antibodies to the virus, keep using birth control for at least 4 weeks after the vaccination.1
If you've never had a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) shot, get a dose before getting pregnant or right after your baby is born.2 Any teen or adult who expects to have close contact with your baby should also get this shot if they've never had it.
Before or during pregnancy: Flu (Influenza)
The flu can be dangerous for you when you're pregnant. If you will be pregnant during the October-through-mid-May flu season, get the flu shot before or during your pregnancy.3 This is especially important if you have a chronic illness or condition (including asthma).4 It's best to get the flu shot as soon as it's available. But it can still help if you get the shot during the flu season. The vaccine is effective for one season. When given during pregnancy, the flu shot is considered safe for your fetus and protects both you and your newborn. (The intranasal vaccine contains live virus, so it is not used during pregnancy.)
If you are already pregnant and are not immune
If you are not immune to rubella, measles, or chickenpox, your doctor will recommend that you not have the vaccine until after childbirth. Instead, you must take every precaution to prevent exposure to these viruses while you're pregnant. Vaccination is safe for you and your baby during breast-feeding.
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