Why Vaccines During Pregnancy Are So Important
According to recent data from a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large percentage of pregnant women are not getting their Tdap vaccine and flu vaccine, both of which are critically important during pregnancy.
The flu shot, recommended annually for everyone over six months old, is especially important for pregnant women, who can become very ill if they contract influenza during pregnancy. The Tdap vaccine, recommended during the third trimester, is a combination vaccine that protects against pertussis (whooping cough), as well as tetanus and diphtheria.
CDC’s data shows that just over half of the women surveyed had received either Tdap or flu vaccine; only 35% received both.
Unfortunately, these lower rates have stayed steady over the last few years. Improving vaccination rates — and confidence in vaccine safety — is a top health priority for Boost, so we’ve gathered answers from Boost’s physician volunteers and other trusted experts to some of the frequently asked questions about vaccines during pregnancy.
Why are Tdap and the flu vaccine recommended? Any others?
Getting a headstart on your baby’s health starts, in part, with the vaccines you receive during pregnancy.
Dr. Ryan Hassan, MD, a Clackamas County pediatrician, says, "Tdap and flu vaccinations during pregnancy help keep mom healthy, but, even more importantly, they allow her to give passive immunity to her baby by transferring maternal antibodies through the placenta. Maternal antibodies protect baby for the first six months of life, until they are able to have their own natural immunity that their body creates in response to their childhood vaccines.”
Tdap and flu vaccines do not contain live viruses, and are safe for women and developing babies.
Vaccines that contain live viruses (for example, varicella and MMR vaccines) are not recommended during pregnancy because they could pose a theoretical risk. Learn more.
Why is it important to protect babies from whooping cough?
Whooping cough can be life-threatening, especially in a baby’s first few months of life.
The Tdap vaccination during pregnancy lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies less than 2 months old by 78%, and hospitalization due to whooping cough in babies less than 2 months old by 91%.
Babies become further protected after all three doses of the vaccine, received at two, four and six months of age.
I got my TDAP shot. Do I really need the flu shot too?
Boost Medical Advisory Board (“MAB”) member Dr. Max Cohen, ND, recommends that all women who are pregnant during flu season (roughly late October through March) receive the flu shot. He says, “We know that pregnant women as well as young babies are at higher risk of complications from influenza, and if you get vaccinated against the flu [during pregnancy] you will pass those protective antibodies to your baby through the placenta.”
The flu vaccination during pregnancy lowers the risk of influenza hospitalization in pregnant women by an average of 40%, and in babies less than 6 months old by an average of 72%.
Similarly to receiving the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy, when you get your flu shot, you’re helping to set your baby up for optimal health in their earliest weeks and months of life.
Can the flu shot during pregnancy make me or baby sick?
Dr. Jay Rosenbloom, Boost MAB member and pediatrician at Pediatric Associates of the Northwest, reassures pregnant women: “The flu shot does not contain any full or live virus and therefore cannot cause influenza."
Dr. Cohen adds, "While you can't get the flu from the flu shot, some people may feel achy for a day or two after receiving it, or catch a common cold around the same time they got their shot," which could be confused with symptoms from the shot itself.
Keep in mind, too, that it takes a couple weeks after the shot for your immune system to respond fully, so you could receive the flu shot and still get the flu within that waiting period. The flu shot cannot provide 100% protection against the flu, but still greatly reduces the risk of getting sick, and has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of flu in people who get vaccinated but still end up getting sick.
How can I maximize my baby’s protection?
One of the best ways to set your developing baby up for success is to find a trusted pediatrician early in your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about what to expect in the first year of your baby’s life, including the benefits of following the recommended immunization schedule.
Learn more
Read more FAQs about Tdap.
Visit the CDC publications on vaccine safety.