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Essential Vaccines For Mothers What To Get Before, During, And After Pregnancy

Why Vaccination Matters for Mothers

According to the 2015 study, immunological changes can make women more susceptible to certain infections, increasing the risk of severe outcomes during pregnancy. Vaccinating pregnant women not only protects them from vaccine-preventable diseases but also helps shield the fetus by transferring protective antibodies.

"Certain infections during pregnancy can pose serious risks, such as birth defects, preterm birth, or stillbirth. Vaccines not only protect the mother but also pass immunity to the baby, offering protection during the crucial early months before the baby's immune system matures," explained Dr Sharma.

Vaccination before, during, and after pregnancy plays a key role in reducing the risks associated with infectious diseases. However, it's important to note that not all vaccines are safe during pregnancy, so it's essential to follow medical guidelines on which vaccines to receive and when.

Also Read: Vaccination: Expert Explains What Science Reveals About Their Safety And Effectiveness 

Vaccines to Get Before Pregnancy

Before conception is an ideal time for women to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. Some vaccines need to be administered at least a month before pregnancy to be effective, and others may require booster shots. Here are some listed by Dr Sharma:

1. Rubella (German Measles) Vaccine

Rubella is a viral infection that can cause severe birth defects, such as heart problems, hearing loss, and developmental issues. Women, who are not immune to rubella should get the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at least a month before conceiving. A blood test can determine whether you are immune to rubella or need the vaccine. Getting vaccinated before pregnancy ensures the best protection for the baby.

2. Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine

"Chickenpox can be dangerous during pregnancy, causing birth defects or low birth weight in the baby. Women who have never had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated should receive the varicella vaccine before pregnancy. This vaccine is most effective when given at least one month before conception," said Dr Sharma.

3. Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Women who haven't received the Tdap vaccine within the last 10 years should get vaccinated before pregnancy. The Tdap vaccine protects against whooping cough (pertussis), which can be life-threatening to newborns. It's important to receive the vaccine before pregnancy to ensure the mother is protected and to reduce the risk of passing the infection to the baby.

4. Hepatitis B Vaccine

According to the Office of Research on Women's Health, a baby born to a mother with hepatitis B is most at risk of contracting the virus during delivery. It's important to discuss with your healthcare provider about getting tested for hepatitis B and whether vaccination is recommended.

"Women who are not immune to hepatitis B should receive the vaccine before pregnancy. If a woman is already pregnant, she should get tested for hepatitis B, and vaccination may be recommended based on the results," added Dr Sharma.

Also Read: Hepatitis During Pregnancy: How Does Hepatitis A, B and C Pose A Risk And How To Prevent Liver Inflammation

Vaccines to Get During Pregnancy

Certain vaccines are crucial during pregnancy to safeguard both the mother and the baby. These vaccines are usually given during the second or third trimester when the baby can benefit most from the antibodies passed through the placenta.

1. Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis)

The Tdap vaccine is strongly recommended during pregnancy, preferably between 27-36 weeks. It protects the baby from whooping cough, which can be fatal for newborns. "The antibodies from the Tdap vaccine pass through the placenta, offering protection to the baby for the first few months of life when they are most vulnerable. Even if the mother has been vaccinated before, it's important to receive a dose during each pregnancy," said Dr Sharma.

2. Flu Vaccine (Influenza Vaccine)

Pregnant women are at higher risk of complications from the flu, such as pneumonia or preterm labour. Getting the flu vaccine during flu season is important for both maternal and foetal health. The flu vaccine is safe during pregnancy and protects the baby after birth by passing protective antibodies through the placenta. It is recommended for all pregnant women, regardless of trimester, during flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises pregnant women to get a flu vaccine by the end of October, even though the timing of flu seasons can vary. This ensures protection before flu activity starts to rise.

3. COVID-19 Vaccine

With the ongoing pandemic, the COVID-19 vaccine has become an essential part of prenatal care. Pregnant women are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, which can lead to complications like preterm birth or low birth weight. The COVID-19 vaccine is considered safe and effective during pregnancy, and it helps protect the mother and the baby from the virus.

4. Hepatitis B Vaccine (if not completed before pregnancy)

"If a woman has not completed the hepatitis B vaccination series before pregnancy, she can continue the series during pregnancy. This is essential to prevent virus transmission during childbirth," advised Dr Sharma.

Vaccines to Get After Pregnancy

After delivery, it's important to continue with vaccination to ensure long-term protection for both mother and baby.

1. Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine

If the woman did not receive the varicella vaccine before pregnancy, it should be administered after delivery to ensure immunity. It's safe to get vaccinated while breastfeeding.

2. Rubella Vaccine

If a woman was not immune to rubella before pregnancy, she should receive the rubella vaccine after delivery. However, it's important to wait until after childbirth to get the vaccine, as it is not recommended during pregnancy.

3. Tdap Vaccine

If the mother did not receive the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, she should get vaccinated immediately postpartum. This will help protect the newborn from whooping cough and prevent the transmission of the disease.

Bottomline

Dr Sharma concluded, "Vaccines are an essential part of prenatal and postnatal care. They protect the mother from infections that could have serious complications during pregnancy, and they also pass immunity to the baby, helping protect the newborn during the critical early months. By staying updated with recommended vaccines before, during, and after pregnancy, women can help ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery. It is always an excellent idea to discuss your vaccination schedule with your healthcare provider to ensure you and your baby are safe."

[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your professional if you are dealing with any health issues to avoid complications.]

COVID-19 Vaccine Cuts Risk Of Disease In Half When Administered During Pregnancy

A large multistate study, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) VISION Network, has found that COVID-19 vaccination given during pregnancy offered 52 per cent protection, cutting risk of a COVID-19-associated emergency department or urgent care visit in half. This is especially significant because there is an increased risk of severe COVID-19 during pregnancy requiring hospitalization and potentially causing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

However, if received less than six months prior to pregnancy, vaccination effectiveness declined providing only moderate protection against COVID (28 percent). If received more than six months prior to pregnancy, vaccination provided little protection (6 percent) against COVID.

Similar to findings in previous VISION studies of those who were not pregnant, protection provided by vaccination against COVID for those who were pregnant waned over four to six months. Also, similar to COVID vaccines for individuals who are not pregnant, effectiveness was comparable to that of the flu vaccine.

The study looked at geographically and racially diverse data from electronic medical records captured during routine healthcare delivery. There was no difference in the protection provided by COVID vaccination by age or race in the study population of 7,677 pregnant 18- to 45-year-olds.

The authors of this study note that their findings, derived from real-world data, indicate the protection provided by either monovalent or bivalent COVID vaccination for those who were pregnant or became pregnant was lower as compared with previous studies, likely due to changes in virus subvariant predominance in 2022-23. Other VISION Network studies have had similar findings in non-pregnant populations.

"The VISION Network did this study to examine the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals who were pregnant, because there have been a lot of questions as to whether pregnant people should be vaccinated or not," said study co-author Brian Dixon, PhD, MPA. "Our data show that for Covid-19, vaccines are protective of pregnant persons, supporting CDC guidelines that recommend COVID vaccination." Dr. Dixon is director and a research scientist with the Clem McDonald Center for Biomedical Informatics at Regenstrief Institute and a professor at the Indiana University Indianapolis Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. 

Gardasil 9 And Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, And Birth Control

Receiving Gardasil during pregnancy

A 5-year pregnancy study was done on the Gardasil vaccine. Gardasil vaccine is discontinued now, that protected against four strains of HPV. However, Gardasil 9 vaccine protects against nine strains.

This study did not find an increased risk of pregnancy loss or congenital anomalies (also known as "birth defects") when Gardasil was given during pregnancy. In the study, about 6.8% of pregnant females who got the Gardasil vaccine had a pregnancy loss. This is less than the pregnancy loss in the general population, which is about 15% to 20% of pregnancies.

The study also looked at major congenital anomalies, which occurred in about 2.4% of children born to people who received Gardasil while pregnant. This is within the range of the general population, in which major congenital anomalies occur in 2% to 4% of children.

After Gardasil became available for use, two studies were also done in the United States and Nordic countries to understand outcomes among pregnant people who received Gardasil. These studies found that there wasn't an increased risk of pregnancy loss or major congenital anomalies when Gardasil was given during pregnancy.

Receiving Gardasil 9 during pregnancy

Data from a 6-year pregnancy registry of Gardasil 9 vaccine suggests that there's no increased risk of pregnancy loss or major congenital anomalies when pregnant people are given Gardasil 9. Pregnancy registries collect information about a drug's effects when it's given to pregnant people. They provide information that helps determine the safety of drugs and vaccines during pregnancy.

In animal studies, Gardasil 9 was given to female rats before mating or during pregnancy. In all cases, the fetuses were not harmed or affected by the vaccine. However, this result in animals may not always show what happens in humans.

If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best time to receive the Gardasil 9 vaccine. If you are exposed to Gardasil 9 during pregnancy, you can call the drug manufacturer at 877-888-4231 to report new cases of exposure. You can also call them if you have questions about Gardasil and pregnancy.

Gardasil 9 and fertility

It's not known if Gardasil 9 can affect male fertility (the ability to cause a pregnancy). This was not studied in the drug's clinical trials.

In animal studies, Gardasil 9 did not affect female fertility in rats, and it did not cause congenital anomalies in the offspring. However, keep in mind these results may not always apply to humans.

If you have questions about Gardasil's effects on fertility, talk with your doctor.

If you're currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it's important to understand the effects that Gardasil 9 could have on you or your child who is breastfed.

There haven't been enough studies to determine if Gardasil 9 is safe to receive while breastfeeding. It's not known if Gardasil 9 can pass into human breast milk. And there's no animal data to determine if Gardasil 9 can pass into animal milk or harm offspring who are fed animal milk.

If you are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the best time to get your Gardasil 9 vaccine. They'll discuss the risks and benefits of receiving the vaccine during this time.

If you're sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it's important to consider how Gardasil 9 could affect your birth control options.

It's not known if the Gardasil 9 vaccine is safe to get during pregnancy. If you're sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you're receiving the Gardasil 9 vaccine.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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