| Phone:
SLC area: (801) 538-9970
FAX:
SLC area: (801) 538-9409
Mail:
Reproductive Health
Program
P.O. Box 142001
Salt Lake City UT
84112-2001 |
|
| Should
A Pregnant Woman Get a Flu Shot or other Vaccinations During
Pregnancy?
|
Recommendations for vaccinating pregnant women vary based on the
type of vaccine and the way the vaccine creates immunity. Some vaccines
are made from “inactivated virus” and some are made
from “live-virus”. The live virus vaccines are generally
not recommended during pregnancy, because of a possible risk of
transmitting the virus to the fetus. After receiving a vaccination
of a live virus, a woman is counseled to avoid becoming pregnant
for four weeks after the vaccine was given.
However, in certain circumstances the benefits
of receiving the vaccine may outweigh the risks and vaccination
should be considered. If a woman is at high risk of disease exposure
due to her work, travel, or contact with people, the benefits of
getting vaccinated likely outweigh the risks of contracting the
disease. If she is at low risk of exposure, she may choose to not
receive the vaccine or wait until she is no longer pregnant. The
following table may be used as a general guide.
|
Name of Vaccine |
Approved
for use in Pregnancy? |
Additional
Information |
| Influenza
(Flu) - Inactivated |
Yes
|
Recommended
for women who will be pregnant during the flu season. |
| Hepatitis
A |
-------- |
Safety
has not been determined. Risk of vaccination should be weighted
against risk of disease in women at high risk for exposure. |
| Hepatitis
B |
Yes
|
Can
also be given while breastfeeding. |
| Human
Papillomavirus |
No |
Data
is limited. Delay vaccine until after pregnancy. |
| Measles(Commonly
given with Mumps and Rubella) |
No |
Avoid
becoming pregnant for 28 days after vaccination. |
| Menningococcal
(MCV4) (conjugate) |
No |
No
data on safety during pregnancy. |
| Mumps
(Commonly given with Measles and Rubella) |
No |
Avoid
becoming pregnant for 28 days after vaccination. |
| Rubella
(German Measles) (Commonly given with Measles and Mumps) |
No |
Avoid
becoming pregnant for 28 days after vaccination. |
| Pneumococcal
(PPV 23) (Pneumonia) |
No |
Safety
has not been evaluated although no adverse consequences reported. |
| Polio |
No |
Should
be avoided unless at high risk for exposure. |
| Tetanus/Diphtheria
(Td) |
Yes |
If
over 10 years since last vaccination should receive booster
dose after 14th week. |
| Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertusis
(Tdap) |
------ |
Safety
has not been evaluated. Recommended only for women at high risk
for pertusis (age 11 - 18 years, health care personnel, women
living or employed where a pertusis outbreak is occurring). |
| Varicella
(Chickenpox) |
No |
Avoid
becoming pregnant for one month after vaccination. Effects of
vaccine on the fetus are unknown. |
For
more information about vaccinating pregnant women and other immunization
issues, go to “Guidelines
for Vaccinating Pregnant Women”, visit the Utah
Immunization Program website, talk with your health care provider,
or contact the Pregnancy
Risk Line at
1-800-822-2229.
For more information on pregnancy, breastfeeding and travel go to
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/pregnant.htm.
Source:
Adapted from the “Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women,”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Click
here for a printer friendly version of this document.
|
