Vaccination is a vital part for any healthy pregnancy. Getting vaccinated is a way to protect both yourself and your newborn during the first few months of his or her life.
We strongly recommend the following vaccines for women DURING pregnancy:
TDAP: this is a combined vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (whooping cough) This vaccine should be given between 27 and 36 weeks to maximize the maternal antibody transfer to the fetus. This helps provide protection for your newborn because newborns are at the highest risk of having severe complications from pertussis. TDAP is recommended with each pregnancy even if you received this vaccine with a previous pregnancy or in the past few years.
Influenza ?flu? vaccine: this is to be taken at any point in the pregnancy, whenever the vaccine becomes available.
These vaccines are safe and effective and have not been shown to cause any adverse effects during pregnancy, including autism. Family members who will be in contact with your newborn should be vaccinated.