Vaccines for Women Before Pregnancy

Vaccines have an important role in safeguarding the health of a woman and her children before pregnancy, during pregnancy,

Vaccination Awareness from Synergy Clinic

and after childbirth. Dr ( Mrs) Pulkit Nandwani, Best Gynaecologist in Rohini and Lady doctor in Rohini at Synergy Clinic discusses the need for a vaccination program before Pregnancy.

Vaccines Recommended Prior to Pregnancy

For women of childbearing age, and particularly for women who are about to become pregnant, it is recommended to find out from the treating physician about the recommended vaccines for all adults, and for pregnant women in particular.

1. Vaccines against Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Chicken Pox 

It is advised that a woman who is planning to become pregnant should check whether she is vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and chicken pox.

The vaccines against these diseases are live attenuated vaccines and are not given during pregnancy, even to women who are not immunized against those diseases.

Why is it recommended to receive the vaccine?

There are risks to the health of the woman and of the unborn child if the woman is infected with these diseases:

·         Measles - A woman who is ill with measles during pregnancy is at increased risk for preterm birth and for miscarriage.

·         Mumps - A woman who is ill with mumps during the first trimester of pregnancy is at increased risk of death of the unborn baby.

·         Rubella (German measles) - A woman who is ill with rubella during pregnancy could suffer a miscarriage. Furthermore, there is a high risk of the baby being born with severe defects, including heart, eye and brain defects.

·         Chicken pox (varicella) - A woman who is ill with chickenpox during pregnancy is at increased risk for severe illness and complications such as pneumonia. Furthermore, the baby is at risk for congenital defects.

In order to be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox, two doses of vaccine against these diseases, separated by a time interval of at least one month, or documentation of having been infected with the disease (by means of blood tests), are required.

It is advisable for a pregnant woman who is not immunized against these diseases and is exposed to a person ill with one of these diseases or with shingles (herpes zoster) to consult with her treating physician.

It is recommended to wait a month after receiving the vaccine before becoming pregnant.

2. Vaccine against Papilloma Virus

As part of the vaccination routine recommended for women of childbearing age, it is recommended to women age 9 – 26 to be vaccinated against the papillomavirus. 

The vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy.

Since the vaccine against the papillomavirus is a live attenuated vaccine, it cannot be received during pregnancy. It is therefore recommended for women who have not received the vaccine to be vaccinated prior to becoming pregnant.

Why is it recommended to receive the vaccine?

The vaccine against the papillomavirus prevents most cases of cervical cancer and a considerable proportion of cases of cancer of the vulva, the vagina, the anus, the mouth and the pharynx. The vaccine also prevents genital warts.