Vaccinations and pregnancy

What is a vaccination?

A vaccination is a shot that contains a vaccine. A vaccine is a medicine that helps protect you from certain diseases. During pregnancy, vaccinations help protect both you your baby. Make sure your vaccinations are current before you get pregnant. And talk to your health care provider about vaccinations that are safe to get during pregnancy.

Our vaccination chart shows which routine vaccinations are recommended before and during pregnancy. It’s based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (also called CDC). 

Before you get any vaccination, tell your provider if you have any severe allergies or if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine. Although allergies to vaccines are rare, it’s important to discuss your options with your provider. If you have a history of allergic reactions to certain components of a vaccine, your provider may recommend getting your vaccines at a hospital or health clinic so you can get treatment quickly if you have an allergic reaction. 

What vaccinations are recommended before pregnancy?

If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, get a preconception checkup. This is a medical checkup you get before pregnancy to help make sure you’re healthy when you get pregnant. At your checkup, ask your provider if you need any vaccinations and how long to wait after getting them to try to get pregnant.

If you have a copy of your vaccination record, share it with your provider. If you don’t have a copy, your provider can do blood tests in most cases to find out what vaccinations you need.

Your provider may recommend these vaccinations before you get pregnant:

Flu (also called influenza). The flu is a serious disease that can cause fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. Getting the flu when you’re pregnant increases your risk of preterm labor and preterm birth (labor and birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy). There are many different flu viruses, and they’re always changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect against the flu viruses that scientists think are going to be most common during the upcoming flu season.

HPV (stands for human papillomavirus). HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (also called STI, sexually transmitted disease or STD) in the U.S. You can’t get the HPV vaccine during pregnancy, so if you need it, get it before you get pregnant.

MMR (stands for measles, mumps and rubella). You probably got the MMR vaccine as a child, but you may need a booster shot (another dose) as you get older. Before you get pregnant, ask your health care provider for a blood test to see if you’re immune to measles, mumps and rubella. If you do get a booster shot, get another blood test after the shot to check your immunity again before you get pregnant. Wait 1 month after you get an MMR vaccination before you get pregnant. 

Measles spreads easily and can cause rash, cough and fever. It can be harmful during pregnancy and can cause miscarriage. Mumps can cause fever, headache and swollen glands in the face and neck. Rubella can cause mild flu-like symptoms and a rash. It can cause serious problems during pregnancy, like miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth or congenital rubella syndrome (also called CRS). CRS may cause a baby to be born with one or more birth defects, including heart defects, vision problems and hearing problems. 

Varicella (also called chickenpox). Chickenpox spreads easily and can cause itchy skin, rash and fever. If you get chickenpox during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects, which can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops or how the body works. If you’re thinking about getting pregnant and haven’t had chickenpox or been vaccinated for it, tell your provider. This vaccination isn’t safe to get during pregnancy. If you need it, get it before you get pregnant. Wait 1 month after you get this vaccination to get pregnant.

Other vaccinations. Your provider may recommend vaccinations to protect you against other diseases, depending on your risk. These include:  

• Pneumonia. This is an infection in one or both lungs.
• Meningitis. This is an infection that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord.
• Hepatitis A and B. These are liver infections caused by the hepatitis A and B viruses.
• Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (also called Hib). This is a serious disease caused by bacteria. It can cause meningitis, pneumonia, other serious infections and death.
• COVID-19. Pregnant people are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines.

What vaccinations are recommended during pregnancy?

The CDC recommends the following vaccines during pregnancy:

1. Flu. Although the timing of flu season can vary, the CDC recommends getting the flu shot by the end of October to provide the best protection.
2. Tdap. This vaccine is given between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Getting the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your baby from pertussis in the first few months of life until they are able to get their own vaccinations. The first few months after birth are when your baby’s most at risk of getting pertussis and when pertussis is most dangerous. Get a new Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy.
3. RSV. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that babies and young children get, which infects the lungs and breathing passages. If not treated, RSV can lead to serious illness and hospitalization. The RSV vaccine is offered from September through January and can be given between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and can help protect your baby from getting seriously sick with RSV.
4. COVID-19. Pregnant people are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 compared to those who are not pregnant. The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older.

If your provider thinks you may be at risk, you may be offered vaccinations to protect you from:

• Hepatitis A and B
• Meningitis
• Pneumonia

If you’re at high risk for serious infections because of travel outside the United States or other possible exposure, your provider may recommend other vaccinations during pregnancy. Talk to your provider for more information on the vaccines you may need.

What vaccinations are not recommended during pregnancy?

These vaccinations are not recommended during pregnancy:

• HPV
• MMR
• Varicella
• Certain travel vaccines

If you had any of these vaccinations before you knew you were pregnant, tell your provider.

What vaccinations are recommended after pregnancy?

If you haven’t caught up on vaccinations before or during pregnancy, do it after your baby’s born. This can help protect you from diseases in future pregnancies.

If you didn’t get the Tdap vaccine before or during pregnancy, get it right after you give birth. It takes your body 2 weeks to build up protection after getting vaccinated. Once that happens, you’re less likely to pass pertussis to your baby. Your baby gets their first pertussis vaccination at 2 months old. Until then, the best way to protect your baby is to get vaccinated yourself and keep them away from people who may have pertussis. Caregivers, close friends, relatives and anyone else who spends time with your baby should get a Tdap vaccine at least 2 weeks before meeting your baby.

Your provider may recommend other vaccinations after you give birth. Most babies don’t start getting most vaccinations until they’re 2 months old. By getting vaccinated, you can help keep from getting sick and passing an illness to your baby.

If you’re breastfeeding, most vaccinations are safe for you and your baby. Tell your provider you’re breastfeeding before you get any vaccination to make sure it’s safe.

Do vaccinations cause autism spectrum disorder?

No. Vaccinations do not cause autism spectrum disorder (also called ASD). ASD is a developmental disability that can cause major social, communication and behavior challenges.

Last reviewed: July, 2024

See also: Your baby’s vaccinations