Travel Vaccines During Pregnancy
If youre a mom-to-be with wanderlust, you may be wondering about travel vaccines, too. The shot for yellow fever, which is recommended if youre heading to Argentina or Brazil, for example, is one thats not considered safe while youre expecting . But, hepatitis A and B vaccines, which are frequently recommended for vacationers headed to any developing countries, are both OK to receive during pregnancy. I encourage pregnant women to speak with their primary care provider or travel medicine specialist to tailor the discussion to their specific travel needs, says Poliquin. Youll need to address these at least four to six weeks before you travel, to give the vaccines time to take effect.
Some vaccines, like the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin shot for tuberculosis and vaccine for yellow fever, can be passed through breastmilk and as a result are not recommended as long as you are nursing, since they are not considered safe for babies. A small amount of antibody from the flu shot, on the other hand, can be passed through breastmilk to babys benefit since it will safely bolster their immunity to influenza. Smith says shell get the flu shot this fall too, as she always does, since she knows itll give her newborn that extra protection. Were just doing everything we can to prevent having a sick baby, she says.
*name has been changed
Vaccines Needed During Pregnancy
There are 2 vaccines you should get during pregnancy:
- whooping cough vaccine
- flu vaccine
You should also get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself from the virus if you are not already vaccinated.
Getting these vaccines means you’ll be protected against COVID-19 and immune to the flu and whooping cough. You’ll also protect your child while they’re in your womb and for the first few months of their life.
You can get the flu and whooping cough vaccines from your GP at the same time. You can also get the flu vaccine from your pharmacist.
Confirming your pregnancy with your GP – HSE mychild.ie
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What Is The Mmr Vaccine
The MMR vaccine is an inoculation that protects against three viruses: measles, mumps, and rubella. All three of these viruses cause disease that can lead to serious medical issues, and in some cases, death. The MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent someone from contracting measles, mumps, and rubella.
Measles is a serious illness that can cause a fever, rash, congestion, and cough if untreated, it can result in brain damage, pneumonia, and even death. Mumps causes fever, fatigue, muscle pain, and swelling of the salivary glands. Serious complications of mumps include swelling of the testicles or ovaries, hearing loss, encephalitis, meningitis, and death.
Symptoms of rubella include fever, rash, and headache. Pregnant individuals who get rubella are prone to miscarriage, and their babies may be born with birth defects.
The MMR vaccine is usually given in childhood, according to the vaccine schedule recommended by the CDC. Its recommended that children get a dose of the MMR vaccine sometime between 12 and 15 months, followed by a second inoculation sometime between 4 and 6 years old. If you did not get an MMR vaccine during childhood, it is recommended you get one or two doses of the MMR vaccine, depending on your risk factors.
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Whooping Cough Can Be Really Dangerous For Your Baby
Youll need a Tdap vaccine during the 27th through 36th week of each pregnancy. Tdap protects against whooping cough, which can be life-threatening for newborns. About half of babies younger than 1 year old who get whooping cough need treatment in the hospital. The younger the baby is when she gets whooping cough, the more likely the baby will need to be treated in a hospital. While some babies cough a lot, other babies with whooping cough dont cough at all. Instead, it can cause them to stop breathing and turn blue. Siblings, parents, or caregivers who dont know they have whooping cough can infect babies, since the disease often causes mild symptoms in older children and adults.
Which Vaccines Should You Consider Before Conception
The preconception period offers a unique opportunity to find your immunization records and review them with your primary care provider. Some vaccines should be considered for all women who are hoping to conceive. Others are recommended based on additional medical issues.
Influenza: Getting your flu shot in anticipation of pregnancy will help protect you during flu season. Flu shots are generally available each year from late August through March, to correspond with the influenza season . You can get a flu shot at your doctors office or at many pharmacies. If you could be pregnant, ask for the inactivated influenza vaccine. The nasally administered live vaccine is not recommended for women who may be pregnant, although children in your home can safely have this version of the vaccine.
Measles, mumps, and rubella : Given the ongoing global measles outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommend assessing measles immunity before a woman becomes pregnant. Your doctor can review your immunization record with you and determine if you have had an adequate number of MMR vaccines. If not, or if you cannot find your immunization record, your doctor can order a blood test to evaluate your immunity and give you a booster shot if needed.
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Which Vaccines Should I Not Get If I Am Pregnant
Some vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy, such as:
- Certain travel vaccines: yellow fever, typhoid fever, and Japanese encephalitisNote: these travel vaccines should generally not be given during pregnancy, unless your healthcare provider determines that the benefits outweigh the risks.
If you get any of these vaccines and then find out you are pregnant, talk to your doctor. Further doses of the vaccines, if needed, should be given after you have completed the pregnancy.
Vaccines For Women: Before Conception During Pregnancy And After A Birth
- By Ilona T. Goldfarb, MD, MPH, Contributor
The rise of vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and hepatitis, in the United States and around the globe has been alarming in recent years. For women especially those hoping to become pregnant, as well as women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby vaccines can be a worrisome topic. There are many misconceptions about vaccine safety in and around pregnancy that can lead to confusion and unnecessary fear of a lifesaving medical tool. As a practicing ob/gyn, I often discuss vaccines with my patients and help them sort out fears versus facts.
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Measles Vaccine During Pregnancy
Measles is the other vaccine-preventable disease on the minds of moms across the country. With measles outbreaks popping up around Canada, many new mothers are facing real concerns about their newborn infants being exposed, says Poliquin. But, babies normally arent vaccinated until theyre about 12 months. In this case, having antibodies already on board is key. Unfortunately theres a catch: the MMR vaccine is live, so if youre already expecting, dont expect your practitioner to offer you a booster.
In general, live virus vaccines are not administered during pregnancy because there is a theoretical risk of infection to the fetus, says Sarah Tranquilli-Doherty, family physician who provides obstetrical care at St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver. Other live vaccines like the herpes zoster for shingles and oral typhoid are also contra-indicated during pregnancy.
My advice is to see your primary care provider if getting pregnant is even a possibility and talk to them about whether you are immune , says Poliquin. Theres a good chance you received one or two doses of the vaccine in childhood If you got the vaccine, youre probably still protected. If youre not sure if you were immunized, your practitioner may suggest a blood test to see if you have sufficient antibodies. If youre not immune, but already expecting, youll have to wait until after baby arrives to get the vaccine and baby wont get any protection until their 1-year shots.
What Is In The Tdap Vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed the Tdap vaccine for use in adolescents and adults in 2005. It protects against three diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis .
The FDA licenses several tetanus vaccine combinations. Here are the combinations and who is approved to receive them:
- Tdap: Pregnant people, adults, and kids over age 7
- DTaP: Children ages 6 weeks through 6 years
- DT: Children who can not receive the pertussis vaccine
- Td: As a booster shot for adults and children over age 7
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Can Getting Immunizations Affect My Unborn Baby
My workplace expects us to get several vaccines regularly. But I’m pregnant and worried these might not be safe for my baby. Should I be concerned? Emma
It’s best to get vaccines before pregnancy when possible, but some can be given while a woman is pregnant.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone, including pregnant women, during flu season. In fact, it’s extra important for pregnant women because the vaccine helps protect a mother and her baby from the flu in the baby’s first year of life. The flu vaccine comes in two forms: the flu shot and the nasal spray . Pregnant women should only get the flu shot. It’s made with a killed flu virus, so won’t affect the fetus. The nasal spray contains a live weaker form of the virus and isn’t safe for moms-to-be.
The Tdap vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women in the second half of each pregnancy, no matter if they’ve gotten it before or when they last got it. This is due to a rise in whooping cough infections, which can be fatal in newborns who have not yet had their routine vaccinations.
Some vaccines should not be given during pregnancy, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine , human papillomavirus vaccine, and chickenpox vaccine.
Before you get any vaccines during pregnancy, check with your doctor to make sure they’re right for you.
Recombinant Herpes Zoster Vaccine
This vaccine should be used with precaution in those who are pregnant , or breastfeeding . The safety and efficacy in individuals younger than 18 years of age has not been studied, and there are limited data on its use in immunocompromised individuals 50 years of age and older.
Refer to Herpes zoster vaccine in Part 4 for additional information.
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Indicated Tetanus And Diphtheria Booster Vaccination
If a Td booster vaccination is indicated during pregnancy then obstetriciangynecologists and other health care providers should administer the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy within the 2736-weeks-of-gestation window 7. This recommendation is because of the nonurgent nature of this indication and the desire for maternal immunity. It also will maximize antibody transfer to the newborn.
Vaccines You Need During Pregnancy
Vaccinations during pregnancy protect both you and your developing baby from serious infections. They also help protect infants after birth, when they’re too young to be vaccinated.
If you’re pregnant, you should be vaccinated against whooping cough and flu. Talk to your health care provider or local public health authority about making sure your vaccines are up to date.
You should get the following vaccinations during pregnancy. They’re safe and help protect you and your baby.
During flu season, anyone who’s pregnant or planning to become pregnant should get the flu shot. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness during pregnancy because your body goes through many changes. These changes can:
- affect the immune system, heart and lungs
- make it harder for your body to fight off infections
Receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy extends protection to your baby. This is important because babies younger than 6 months can’t get vaccinated against the flu. Your flu shot helps protect your baby from the flu after birth.
Vaccination with a non-live flu vaccine lowers the risk of complications from the flu during pregnancy and after your baby is born. However, live flu vaccines shouldn’t be given during pregnancy.
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Risks Of Getting The Mmr Vaccine While Pregnant
Receiving the MMR vaccine during pregnancy puts your pregnancy and your baby at risk for serious outcomes. Again, this is because the MMR vaccine contains live, weakened viruses that can potentially cross the placenta and cause harm.
Lets take a look at some of the potential complications the MMR vaccine can cause if taken during pregnancy.
When Should I Have The Vaccines
Flu vaccines are available to all pregnant people in the UK during the flu season from September to January. The flu vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy, however, pregnant individuals are recommended to have their flu vaccine as early as possible in the season to provide the best protection for both mother and baby.
Pertussis vaccines provide the best protection when given between 16-32 weeks pregnant. If vaccination is missed during this time, it can still be given later in pregnancy, however, the protection provided may not be passed to the baby.
COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters can be given at any time during pregnancy. Those who have not already received a COVID-19 vaccine should aim to have both doses and the booster as soon as possible. It is not necessary to delay vaccination until after birth. More information on the timing of COVID-19 vaccine doses can be found here.
To arrange these vaccinations in the UK, contact your GP or midwife.
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What Vaccinations Are Recommended During Pregnancy
The CDC recommends two vaccinations during pregnancy:
If your provider thinks you may be at risk, he may recommend vaccinations during pregnancy to help protect you from:
- Hepatitis A and B
- Pneumonia
- Tetanus and diphtheria , although the Tdap vaccination is recommended.
If youre at high risk for serious infections because of travel outside the United States or other possible exposure, your provider may recommend these vaccinations during pregnancy:
Can A Vaccine Harm My Unborn Child
A number of vaccines, especially live-virus vaccines, should not be given to pregnant women because they might be harmful to the baby. Some vaccines can be given to the mother in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, while others should only be administered either at least three months before or immediately after the baby is born. Vaccines that are offered during pregnancy, such as the flu shot, are recommended for pregnant women.
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How Do I Know If A Vaccine’s Ingredients Are Safe
All vaccines are tested for safety under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration . The vaccines are checked for purity, potency, and safety, and the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitor the safety of each vaccine for as long as it is in use. Some people might be allergic to an ingredient in a vaccine, such as eggs in the influenza vaccine, and should not receive the vaccine until they have talked to their doctors.
Why Should I Get Vaccinated During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the immune system becomes weakened which can make pregnant people more susceptible to infections and serious illness from certain diseases. These diseases can lead to complications during pregnancy, in the worst cases leading to preterm labour and stillbirth. Vaccination against these diseases is strongly recommended to help protect against infection and associated complications.
Vaccines work to protect us from infection by stimulating the production of protective antibodies by our immune system . This protection, in the form of antibodies, can then pass to babies through the placenta or in breast milk. Getting vaccinated while pregnant therefore protects both mother and baby. This is important as babies dont start to receive their own vaccinations until 8 weeks of age, so this can help protect them until they receive their own vaccines and make their own protective immune responses.
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How Do Medical Experts Know That The Covid Vaccine Is Safe When Youre Pregnant
What If You’re Allergic To A Vaccine
Serious reactions to vaccines are rare. However, your doctor may tell you to skip certain shots if you have an allergy to a substance they contain. Those who are allergic, for example, to baker’s yeast shouldn’t get the hepatitis B vaccine those with a severe egg allergy should avoid the flu shot and people with a severe allergy to gelatin or to the antibiotic neomycin shouldn’t get the measles, mumps, and rubella or varicella vaccine. If you’re skipping any shots, you should discuss alternate ways to prevent illness with your doctor.
American Baby
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