August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and while most vaccine conversations focus on children and teens, there’s a critically important group that often gets overlooked: pregnant women. Vaccines during pregnancy aren’t just about protecting you — they pass protective antibodies to your developing baby, giving them immunity before they’re old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
At Unified Premier Women’s Care, prenatal vaccine counseling is an integral part of our obstetrics care. Here’s what every expectant mom should know about staying up to date.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and while most vaccine conversations focus on children and teens, there’s a critically important group that often gets overlooked: pregnant women. Vaccines during pregnancy aren’t just about protecting you — they pass protective antibodies to your developing baby, giving them immunity before they’re old enough to be vaccinated themselves.
At Unified Premier Women’s Care, prenatal vaccine counseling is an integral part of our obstetrics care. Here’s what every expectant mom should know about staying up to date.
Why Pregnancy Changes the Vaccine Conversation
Pregnancy naturally shifts the immune system to protect both mother and baby — but this shift can also make some infections more dangerous. Illnesses like influenza and whooping cough can be significantly more severe during pregnancy, and certain infections can cross the placenta and harm the developing baby.
The good news is that vaccines given during pregnancy take advantage of a biological superpower: the antibodies your body produces in response to a vaccine are transferred through the placenta to your baby. This means your newborn arrives with a head start on protection against diseases that they’re too young to be vaccinated against directly.
Recommended Vaccines During Pregnancy
Tdap (Whooping Cough Vaccine)
This is one of the most important vaccinations during pregnancy. Whooping cough (pertussis) can be life-threatening in newborns — it causes violent coughing episodes that can interfere with breathing, and infants under two months old are too young to receive the vaccine themselves.
The CDC recommends Tdap during every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks gestation. Getting it in this window maximizes the antibody transfer to your baby. Even if you received Tdap before pregnancy, getting it again during each pregnancy provides the highest level of passive protection for your newborn.
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk for serious complications — including hospitalization — compared to non-pregnant adults. The flu vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy and is recommended every year during flu season.
In addition to protecting you, the flu vaccine reduces your baby’s risk of flu-related illness and hospitalization during the first six months of life, when they can’t yet receive the vaccine themselves.
COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, ICU admission, and preeclampsia. Current guidance from the CDC and ACOG supports COVID-19 vaccination and updated boosters during pregnancy. Talk to your provider at your next prenatal visit for the most current recommendations based on your vaccination history.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine
RSV is one of the leading causes of infant hospitalization in the first year of life. The maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is recommended for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks gestation between September and January. It works by transferring antibodies to the baby before birth, protecting infants during their most vulnerable months.
Our practice provides maternal RSV education and vaccination support as part of our obstetrics services.
What About Other Vaccines?
Some vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy because they contain live viruses (MMR, varicella, and others). If you’re missing any of these, your provider will discuss the timing for catching up postpartum — ideally before your next pregnancy. This is also a good time to make sure your partner, older children, and other close contacts are up to date on their vaccines. This “cocooning” strategy provides another layer of protection for your newborn.
Addressing Common Concerns
Questions and hesitations about vaccines during pregnancy are completely understandable. Here are a few of the most common:
- “Will the vaccine hurt my baby?” The vaccines recommended in pregnancy have extensive safety records. The flu and Tdap vaccines in particular have been given to millions of pregnant women and are well-studied.
- “Can vaccines cause premature labor?” No evidence supports this concern. In fact, the infections these vaccines prevent — especially flu and whooping cough — can increase the risk of preterm birth.
- “Do I really need Tdap every pregnancy?” Yes. The immunity you build from a previous pregnancy’s Tdap does not maintain high enough antibody levels for the next baby. Re-vaccination during each pregnancy is the standard recommendation.
Your Unified Premier Women’s Care provider is always the right person to discuss any questions you have — we’d rather you ask than wonder.
Your Prenatal Care Team in Marietta
Vaccine timing is just one piece of the comprehensive prenatal care we provide. From your first pregnancy visit through delivery and postpartum recovery, our obstetrics team is with you every step of the way. We also offer ultrasound and sonography services in-house for convenient, comprehensive monitoring throughout your pregnancy.
| “Dr. Goh is always so kind and compassionate and always listens patiently to any concerns or nerves I have. She is encouraging and nurturing. I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and we are both so excited for my baby to get here!” – Unified Premiere Women’s Care Patient Testimonial |
Questions About Prenatal Vaccines? We’re Here.
If you’re unsure which vaccines you’ve had or whether you’re up to date, bring it up at your next prenatal visit. We can review your immunization history and make sure you and your baby are protected.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, Schedule your next prenatal appointment or call us at (770) 427-0285.
Why Pregnancy Changes the Vaccine Conversation
Pregnancy naturally shifts the immune system to protect both mother and baby — but this shift can also make some infections more dangerous. Illnesses like influenza and whooping cough can be significantly more severe during pregnancy, and certain infections can cross the placenta and harm the developing baby.
The good news is that vaccines given during pregnancy take advantage of a biological superpower: the antibodies your body produces in response to a vaccine are transferred through the placenta to your baby. This means your newborn arrives with a head start on protection against diseases that they’re too young to be vaccinated against directly.
Recommended Vaccines During Pregnancy
Tdap (Whooping Cough Vaccine)
This is one of the most important vaccinations during pregnancy. Whooping cough (pertussis) can be life-threatening in newborns — it causes violent coughing episodes that can interfere with breathing, and infants under two months old are too young to receive the vaccine themselves.
The CDC recommends Tdap during every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks gestation. Getting it in this window maximizes the antibody transfer to your baby. Even if you received Tdap before pregnancy, getting it again during each pregnancy provides the highest level of passive protection for your newborn.
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
Pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk for serious complications — including hospitalization — compared to non-pregnant adults. The flu vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy and is recommended every year during flu season.
In addition to protecting you, the flu vaccine reduces your baby’s risk of flu-related illness and hospitalization during the first six months of life, when they can’t yet receive the vaccine themselves.
COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, ICU admission, and preeclampsia. Current guidance from the CDC and ACOG supports COVID-19 vaccination and updated boosters during pregnancy. Talk to your provider at your next prenatal visit for the most current recommendations based on your vaccination history.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine
RSV is one of the leading causes of infant hospitalization in the first year of life. The maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is recommended for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks gestation between September and January. It works by transferring antibodies to the baby before birth, protecting infants during their most vulnerable months.
Our practice provides maternal RSV education and vaccination support as part of our obstetrics services.
What About Other Vaccines?
Some vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy because they contain live viruses (MMR, varicella, and others). If you’re missing any of these, your provider will discuss the timing for catching up postpartum — ideally before your next pregnancy. This is also a good time to make sure your partner, older children, and other close contacts are up to date on their vaccines. This “cocooning” strategy provides another layer of protection for your newborn.
Addressing Common Concerns
Questions and hesitations about vaccines during pregnancy are completely understandable. Here are a few of the most common:
- “Will the vaccine hurt my baby?” The vaccines recommended in pregnancy have extensive safety records. The flu and Tdap vaccines in particular have been given to millions of pregnant women and are well-studied.
- “Can vaccines cause premature labor?” No evidence supports this concern. In fact, the infections these vaccines prevent — especially flu and whooping cough — can increase the risk of preterm birth.
- “Do I really need Tdap every pregnancy?” Yes. The immunity you build from a previous pregnancy’s Tdap does not maintain high enough antibody levels for the next baby. Re-vaccination during each pregnancy is the standard recommendation.
Your Unified Premier Women’s Care provider is always the right person to discuss any questions you have — we’d rather you ask than wonder.
Your Prenatal Care Team in Marietta
Vaccine timing is just one piece of the comprehensive prenatal care we provide. From your first pregnancy visit through delivery and postpartum recovery, our obstetrics team is with you every step of the way. We also offer ultrasound and sonography services in-house for convenient, comprehensive monitoring throughout your pregnancy.
| “Dr. Goh is very patient and answers all your questions without any rush. This is my first pregnancy , she took care of me and guided me really well with any silly questions I might have. She is one of the best doctors around.” – Unified Premiere Women’s Care Patient Testimonial |
Questions About Prenatal Vaccines? We’re Here.
If you’re unsure which vaccines you’ve had or whether you’re up to date, bring it up at your next prenatal visit. We can review your immunization history and make sure you and your baby are protected.
To learn more or schedule an appointment, Schedule your next prenatal appointment or call us at (770) 427-0285.