Vaccines Recommended During Pregnancy

Vaccination program available at Synergy Clinic during Pregnancy

The Blog post is written by Dr ( Mrs) Pulkit Nandwani, the best gynaecologist in Rohini and Lady doctor in Rohini. She mentions the role of the proper vaccination program during and before Pregnancy at Synergy Clinic!

Safety of the Vaccine

It is permitted and even recommended to vaccinate women with certain vaccines, which are not live, during pregnancy.

The type of vaccine given to pregnant women is the killed (bacteria/virus) type or the toxoid type.

1. Vaccine against Influenza

It is recommended for every pregnant woman, in every pregnancy, to receive a vaccine against influenza. 

Why is it recommended to receive the vaccine? 

Pregnant women are in a high risk group for being severely ill with influenza and for suffering complications. It is therefore very important for a pregnant woman to receive a vaccine against influenza.

Vaccination of a pregnant woman against influenza immunizes not just the mother but also the unborn baby. Babies whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy have less respiratory tract illness in general, less influenza in particular, and fewer hospitalizations. Studies show that vaccine against influenza given to pregnant women reduces influenza morbidity of infants up to the age of 6 months by 63%. 

2. Vaccine against Whooping Cough

It is recommended for every pregnant woman, in every pregnancy, to receive a vaccine against whooping cough, preferably between Weeks 27-36 of the pregnancy.

Why is it recommended to receive the vaccine?

Whooping cough is dangerous to delicate babies and toddlers due to the severe complications of pneumonia and inflammation of the brain which could develop as a result of the disease.

It is not possible to begin vaccinating a baby against whooping cough until the age of two months, and until enough doses of the vaccine have been received, he does not have adequate protection against the disease.

Giving the vaccine to a pregnant woman protects the baby in two ways:

·         By the transfer of antibodies against whooping cough via the placenta to the fetus, which will protect him after he is born.

·         By protecting the mother against becoming ill with the disease and transmitting it to the baby.

The vaccine against whooping cough is given in combination with the vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus.

3. Vaccines given to Pregnant Women in Special Cases

·         Vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria - given after injury or prior to overseas travel.

·         Vaccines for persons travelling abroad - given to a pregnant woman who is planning overseas travel.