IMMUNIZATION and Pregnancy 

Vaccines help keep a pregnant woman and her growing family healthy. 

Before pregnancy 

* Before becoming pregnant, a woman should be 
up-to-date on routine adult vaccines. This will help 
protect her and her child. Live vaccines should be 
given a month or more before pregnancy. Inactivated 
vaccines can be given before or during pregnancy, if
 needed.

During pregnancy 

*  Flu Vaccine 
It is safe, and very important, for a pregnant woman 
to receive the inactivated flu vaccine. A pregnant 
woman who gets the flu is at risk for serious 
complications and hospitalization. To learn more 
about preventing the flu, visit the CDC website 
www.cdc.gov/flu.

*  Travel 
Many vaccine-preventable diseases, rarely seen in the
 United States, are still common in other parts of 
the world. A pregnant woman planning international 
travel should talk to her health professional about 
vaccines. Information about travel vaccines can be 
found at CDC’s traveler’s health website at 
www.cdc.gov/travel.

                
*  Childhood Vaccines 
Pregnancy is a good time to learn about childhood 
vaccines. Parents-to-be can learn more about 
childhood vaccines from the CDC parents guide at

www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/Parents-Guide/default.htm
Also, the child and adolescent vaccination schedule can
 be downloaded and printed at
www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm#Printable.

* It is safe for a woman to receive vaccines right after 
giving birth, even while she is breastfeeding. 
A woman who has not received the new vaccine for the 
prevention of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) 
should be vaccinated right after delivery. Guidelines 
can be found at www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/provisional_recs/tdap-preg.pdf.

Also, a woman who is not immune to measles, mumps and
 rubella and/or varicella (chicken pox) should be 
vaccinated before leaving the hospital.


Did you know that a mother’s immunity is passed along
 to her baby during pregnancy? This will protect the 
baby from some diseases during the first few months of
 life until the baby can get vaccinated.

Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/preg_guide.htm. 
or www.cdc.gov/nip for more information. 
Or get an answer to your specific question by e-mailing cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
or calling 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) · 24/7 · English or Spanish 

Pregnancy 08-28-06,  CR 105764 

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