Before, during and after pregnancy, women should pay particular attention to their health status because they share everything with their children, from risks to benefits. That’s why it’s so important to learn about which immunisations you should get and which ones you should avoid at all costs.
First, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that women who want to become pregnant make sure they are up to date with their vaccination history. Some vaccines that are contraindicated during pregnancy, such as the Triple Viral vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella), protect against diseases that can put both mother and baby at risk, so they must be given at least one month before conception.
Other vaccines can be given throughout pregnancy, such as the flu vaccine and the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine, and protect both.
On the other hand, postpartum vaccination is also of great importance for women who have not received the necessary doses before or after gestation as it allows antibodies to be transmitted to the baby through breast milk.
Here are the vaccines recommended by the health authorities for expectant mothers:
Before Pregnancy
- Triple viral vaccine. The MMR vaccine is a combination immunisation designed to prevent the onset of three distinct diseases: measles, mumps and rubella. It is recommended that children receive two doses of the vaccine, the first at 12 months of age and the second four to six years later. If you did not receive this vaccine during childhood and plan to become pregnant, be sure to consult a health care professional to determine if you need it.
During pregnancy
- Flu vaccine. Most people who receive influenza vaccine each year are recommended (except those who are allergic to the components of the formula or who have had Guillain-Barré Syndrome). The vaccine is safe for pregnant women and is recommended for use, particularly during flu season. They can receive it at any time during pregnancy.
- Whooping cough. Pertussis is a disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis that is transmitted through sneezing or direct contact with respiratory secretions of infected persons. This disease is particularly risky for infants and young children. The Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality recommends that the combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine be administered between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.
Vaccines contraindicated for pregnant women
- BCG vaccine (Calmette-Guérin bacillus). This vaccine protects against tuberculosis. Although no harmful effects have been observed during pregnancy, according to the CDC, studies are still needed to prove that this is a safe vaccine for expectant mothers.
- Chicken pox. Women who receive the chickenpox vaccine should avoid becoming pregnant for at least one month because the effects of this virus on developing babies are not known.
- Triple viral. As mentioned above, this vaccine is recommended before pregnancy, but not during it. Women receiving this immunisation should wait at least one month before conceiving.