When to Vaccinate if Pregnant

Due to pretty obvious reasons it is advisable to avoid vaccinations during the gestation period. However when there is susceptibility on the mother’s part of getting an infection or when you want to protect the newborn against the disease through trans placenta immunization of the fetus, it may be necessary to get them.

If the mother was not vaccinated before pregnancy, and as a general norm, it preferable to finish or get them for the first time in the postpartum period.

Vaccines

General considerations: Contraindications

Vaccination: Measles, rubella, mumps, and chicken pox

Causes: Are live germs

General considerations: Selective in inevitable exposure

Vaccination: Yellow fever, rabies, and cholera

Causes: are live germs. Are inactive germs

General considerations: Selective in women at high risk

Vaccination: Hepatitis A

Causes: Are inactive germs

General considerations: Specific if specified

Vaccine: Influenza and Hepatitis B

Causes: Are inactive germs. Are modified proteins. Can be used without problem after the third trimester.

General considerations: Not indicated in the pregnancy

Vaccination: Polio, BCG, rubella

Causes: Are only indicated for less than five years of age. Are not to be used during pregnancy. Are live germs. They are not recommended during any stage of the pregnancy because of high risk of complications. Vaccinate postpartum. 

When it is absolutely necessary to vaccinate a pregnant woman, this will only happen if:

• The risk of the maternal exposure to the disease is high.

• Natural infection would mean a great risk to the mother or the fetus.