11/08/2019
What are vaccines?
Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections. They work by preparing the body to fight the germs that cause the infections. Vaccines usually come in shots, but some come in nose sprays or medicines that people swallow. Vaccines are also called "vaccinations" or "immunizations."
Why should I get vaccinated?
Getting vaccinated can help keep you from getting certain serious infections. It's important to be vaccinated even if you don't become pregnant. But if you are pregnant and get certain infections, you can have problems during your pregnancy. Being vaccinated can also help keep your baby from getting sick before or after it is born.
What should I know about vaccines if I am planning to get pregnant?
If you are planning to get pregnant, you should make sure that your vaccines are up to date. This means that you have gotten all of the vaccines that your doctor or nurse recommends. If you are not sure if you got all of your vaccines, your doctor or nurse might do a blood test to check.
It's especially important that women be up to date with their vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox before they get pregnant. That's because vaccines to prevent these infections cannot be given to pregnant women. If women who have not been vaccinated do get these infections during pregnancy, they can have problems. Problems can include:
●Passing the infection on to the baby, either during pregnancy or in the first few months after birth
●Having a miscarriage – A miscarriage is when a pregnancy ends on its own before the baby can live outside the womb.
●Giving birth too early
●Having a baby with a birth defect
Women who need the measles, mumps, rubella, or chickenpox vaccines should get them at least 1 month before getting pregnant.
It's also important that women be up to date with a vaccine called the HPV vaccine before they get pregnant. The HPV vaccine is not given during pregnancy, although if a women gets it before knowing she is pregnant, it is safe.
Do I need the chickenpox vaccine if I had chickenpox infection?
No. If you had chickenpox infection in the past, you do not need to get the vaccine. People who have had chickenpox can't get the illness again.
Which vaccines are safe to get during pregnancy?
Some vaccines are safe to get during pregnancy. These include vaccines to prevent:
●Influenza (flu) – All adults should get the flu vaccine each year. But it's especially important for pregnant women to get the flu vaccine. That's because pregnant women tend get more severely ill with the flu than people who are not pregnant. The flu vaccine can keep a woman from getting sick. It can also keep a baby from getting the flu during the first few months of life.
●Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis – Tetanus causes the muscles to work abnormally. Diphtheria can cause a thick covering in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems. Pertussis, also known as "whooping cough," causes a severe cough. All pregnant women should get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine at 27 to 36 weeks of pregnancy, even if they got it before. This is mostly to protect the baby from getting whooping cough in the first few months after birth. Whooping cough in babies can be serious or even deadly.
●Some women might get other vaccines while they are pregnant. For example, women might need certain vaccines if they have other medical conditions or plan to travel to another country.
There is no link between getting any vaccine and developing autism.
How many vaccine doses do I need?
Each vaccine is different. Some vaccines work after just 1 dose. Others need 2 or more doses to prevent an infection. Most vaccines take a few weeks to work.
What side effects can vaccines cause?
Often, vaccines cause no side effects. When they do cause side effects, they can cause:
●Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where the shot was given
●A mild fever
●A mild rash
●Headache or body aches
Vaccines also sometimes cause more serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions. But serious side effects are rare.
Ask your doctor what side effects to expect each time you get a vaccine. If you have a reaction or a problem after a vaccine, let him or her know.
Can I still get the flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy?
Yes. Some forms of the flu vaccine do contain small amounts of egg. But the amount is so small that it does not cause an allergic reaction. If you have an egg allergy, you should still get the flu vaccine, especially if you are pregnant.
What if I am pregnant and never got the measles, mumps, rubella, or chickenpox vaccines?
If you are pregnant and never got these vaccines and never had these infections, you should avoid people with these infections.
If you find out that someone around you has chickenpox or rubella, call your doctor as soon as possible. He or she can tell you if there is anything you should do.
