Vaccines during pregnancy: What to know

This article is up to date as of June 30, 2026, and is based on vaccine guidance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Individual states may adopt their own vaccine policies and recommendations based on local public health assessments and regulatory guidance. For the most up-to-date information, consult your state or local health department or your health care provider.

Many expectant parents want to make the best choices for their baby, especially when it comes to medications and vaccines. It’s normal for pregnant people or those planning a pregnancy to have questions about which vaccines are recommended and which to prioritize before or after pregnancy.

Understanding vaccine safety during pregnancy can help protect both parent and baby and support a healthy start. That’s why this guide covers some vaccines that can help protect both parent and baby during pregnancy.

In this article:

How can people prepare a vaccines pregnancy plan?

People who are pregnant should start by working with a health care provider to create a vaccine plan that fits their individual needs. These needs may vary based on stage of pregnancy, lifestyle, medical history and other factors.

In general, some vaccines usually recommended are the flu and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines. These vaccines can help protect both the pregnant person and the newborn after birth.

It’s also recommended that people get the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy because pregnant people are more likely to become very sick from COVID-19 than those who are not pregnant. They are also more likely to have serious complications, such as needing hospitalization or intensive care. Severe COVID-19 can lead to death and can also increase the risk of pregnancy-related issues, such as preterm birth or stillbirth.

Because infants do not have fully developed immune systems, they are more vulnerable to infections. For this reason, anyone who may be in close contact with a baby should also be up-to-date on routine vaccines, including whooping cough vaccine (DTaP or Tdap depending on the person’s age), and flu vaccine during flu season.

Why get the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy?

Pregnant people are encouraged to receive the Tdap vaccine at any time during each pregnancy, optimally between weeks 27 and 36. This vaccine helps protect both the pregnant person and the baby from pertussis (whooping cough). It’s recommended during every pregnancy, regardless of when the vaccine was last received.

This protection helps give newborns early support before they are even born and during a time when they’re not yet eligible for their own vaccines. By receiving the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, a parent can help pass protective antibodies to their baby, helping reduce the risk of whooping cough in the first few months of life. Studies show that getting Tdap between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy lowers the risk of whooping cough by about 78 percent in babies younger than two months.

Does getting the Tdap vaccine cause side effects?

The Tdap vaccine can cause some side effects. Common side effects may include:

• Feeling tired
• Headache
• Mild fever
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach pain
• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site

It’s important to know that the Tdap vaccine cannot cause whooping cough.

Is it safe to get the Tdap vaccine at the same time as other vaccines?

People can get the COVID-19, flu and Tdap vaccines during the same visit. It’s safe to receive them together.

Can people get the Tdap vaccine even when breastfeeding?

The Tdap vaccine is safe for people who are breastfeeding, and it can be given if the parent didn’t get it during pregnancy and hasn’t had it before. Getting the vaccine while breastfeeding may also help provide added benefits for the baby.

Why get the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant?

It’s recommended that future parents stay up to date with the COVID-19 vaccine if they’re currently pregnant, trying to get pregnant now, or planning for a pregnancy in the future.

Pregnant and recently postpartum people are more likely to get seriously ill from COVID-19 than those who are not pregnant, making it especially important to stay up-to-date on recommended vaccinations. Moreover, getting COVID-19 during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of complications, including preterm birth or stillbirth.

People can get the COVID-19 vaccine at any point during pregnancy. But getting it at the earliest opportunity offers the most protection for both the pregnant person and the baby. COVID-19 vaccines can also be given at the same time as other routinely recommended pregnancy vaccines, including flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Tdap.

Of course, people should talk to a health care provider if they have any concerns about any vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine side effects

Vaccines, like any medical product, can cause side effects. These can vary from person to person but are usually mild.

For COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax), common side effects may include:

• Chills
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• Pain, soreness or redness at the injection site

Some vaccines may also have specific side effects:

• Moderna and Novavax: nausea or vomiting

Severe allergic reactions are rare, but they can be life-threatening. It’s important to seek medical care right away if they occur.

Is it safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine while breastfeeding?

There’s no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines are harmful to people who are breastfeeding or their babies. Available data show no severe reactions in either breastfeeding parents or their breastfed children after vaccination.

In fact, research suggests that people who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines while breastfeeding have protective antibodies in their breast milk, which could help protect the infant.

Why get a flu shot while pregnant?

Anyone who is pregnant or will be pregnant during flu season should receive an inactivated flu vaccine. It's best to get vaccinated by the end of October, if possible, but getting vaccinated later in the season can still provide protection. Pregnant people should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine because it is a live attenuated vaccine, which is not recommended during pregnancy.

Why get vaccinated against the flu when pregnant?

There’s a reason why millions of pregnant people have received the flu vaccine over the years. It’s a safe and effective way to help protect both the pregnant person and the baby.

Getting the flu when pregnant can increase the risk of illness that may lead to hospitalization, and it can potentially harm the developing baby. Fever, a common flu symptom, has also been associated in some studies with neural tube defects and other complications for developing babies.

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy can help provide protection that lasts beyond birth. Antibodies are passed to the baby during pregnancy, and through breast milk afterward. The antibodies can continue to help protect the baby from flu-related complications for the first several months after their birth, when they are too young to be vaccinated.

Does getting a flu shot during pregnancy cause side effects?

While the flu vaccine can cause side effects, many people report experiencing no side effects at all. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days.

Common side effects from flu shots (inactivated and recombinant vaccines) may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site

Why get a hepatitis B vaccine while pregnant?

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all adults ages 19 to 59. An expectant parent who has not yet received the hepatitis B vaccine should get it during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a reason someone would need to avoid this vaccine.

Available hepatitis B vaccines contain noninfectious components, so they should cause no risk of infection to the fetus.

Hepatitis B vaccine side effects

Common side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine may include:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Pain, soreness or redness at the injection site

These are usually mild and last one to two days.

Why get the RSV vaccine while pregnant?

To help prevent severe RSV disease in infants, either a maternal RSV vaccine during pregnancy or an infant immunization with RSV monoclonal antibody is recommended. Most babies will not need both.

A single dose of the maternal RSV vaccine is recommended between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy and is usually given between September and January as appropriate. This vaccine and the timing of when it is when given helps protect the baby during their first RSV season by passing protective antibodies from the pregnant person to the baby.

If the vaccine isn’t given during pregnancy, the baby may instead receive an RSV monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) just before or at the start of RSV season (typically October through March), depending on when they are born. At this time, people who received an RSV vaccine in a previous pregnancy are not recommended to get another dose during future pregnancies.

The RSV vaccine can also be given at the same time as other recommended pregnancy vaccines, such as COVID-19, flu and Tdap.

RSV vaccine side effects

Common side effects of the RSV vaccine may include:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea
• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site

These side effects are usually mild. People who have had similar reactions to other vaccines may be more likely to experience them after getting an RSV vaccine.

Other vaccine considerations

Some vaccines should be avoided during pregnancy because their potential risks may outweigh their benefits. In particular, live vaccines are not recommended, as they may be harmful to the baby.

Live vaccines include, but are not limited to:

• Live influenza vaccine (nasal spray)
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine

In some cases, a health care provider can help determine whether a vaccine’s benefits outweigh its potential risks based on a person’s risk factors. These may include live vaccines, as well as:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
• Certain travel vaccines, such as Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and yellow fever

If someone receives one of these vaccines and later finds out they are pregnant, they should talk to a health care provider. The provider can help decide if any additional doses should be delayed until after pregnancy.

People should also talk with a health care provider if they are unsure which vaccines are safe before, during and after pregnancy.

Key takeaways

Vaccines during pregnancy can help protect both the pregnant person and the baby from severe illnesses like COVID-19, flu, RSV and whooping cough. A pregnant parent with these recommended vaccines can even pass protective antibodies to their baby before and after birth. While some vaccines may need to be prioritized before or after pregnancy, a health care provider can help determine the right schedule based on individual needs.