Risk to a developing fetus from vaccination of the mother during pregnancy is theoretical. No evidence exists of risk to the fetus from vaccinating pregnant women with inactivated virus or bacterial vaccines or toxoids. Live vaccines administered to a pregnant woman pose a theoretical risk to the fetus; therefore, live, attenuated virus and live bacterial vaccines generally are contraindicated during pregnancy.
Benefits of vaccinating pregnant women usually outweigh potential risks when the likelihood of disease exposure is high, when infection would pose a risk to the mother or fetus, and when the vaccine is unlikely to cause harm.
CDC. General recommendations on immunization: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2011; 60 (No. 2): 26.
Vaccine | General Recommendation for Use in Pregnant Women | For More Information See text | |
---|---|---|---|
Routine | Hepatitis A | Recommended if otherwise indicated. | See Hepatitis A text |
Hepatitis B | Recommended in some circumstances. | See Hepatitis B text | |
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | Not recommended. | See HPV text | |
Influenza (Inactivated) | Recommended. | See Influenza text | |
Influenza (LAIV) | Contraindicated. | See Influenza(LAIV) text | |
MMR | Contraindicated. | See MMR text | |
MCV4 (MenACWY) | May be used if otherwise indicated. | See Meningococcal text | |
PCV13 | Inadequate data for specific recommendation. | See Pneumococcal Conjugate text | |
PPSV23 | Inadequate data for specific recommendation. | See Pneumococcal Polysaccharide text | |
Polio | May be used if needed. | See Polio text | |
Td | Should be used if otherwise indicated. | See Tetanus and Diphtheria text | |
Tdap | Recommended. | See Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis text | |
Varicella | Contraindicated. | See Varicella text | |
Zoster | Contraindicated. | See Zoster text | |
Travel & Other | Anthrax | Low risk of exposure – not recommended. High risk of exposure – may be used. | See Anthrax text |
BCG | Contraindicated. | See BCG text | |
Japanese Encephalitis | Inadequate data for specific recommendation. | See Japanese Encephalitis text | |
Meningococcal (MPSV4) | May be used if otherwise indicated. | See Meningococcal text | |
Rabies | May be used if otherwise indicated. | See Rabies text | |
Typhoid | Inadequate data for specific recommendation. | See Typhoid text | |
Smallpox | Pre-exposure – contraindicated. Post-exposure – recommended. |
See Smallpox text | |
Yellow Fever | May be used if benefit outweighs risk. | See Yellow Fever text |