Vaccines in pregnancy
Which vaccines can be given before or during pregnancy, which are not recommended, and what happens if a live vaccine is given by mistake.
Vaccines containing a toxoid, such as tetanus, are suitable both before and during pregnancy. Vaccines containing killed bacteria or viruses — influenza, pneumococcus, hepatitis B, meningococcus and rabies among them — are not associated with adverse effects on the baby and can be given during pregnancy or in the period before it. Studies have also found vaccination against COVID-19 to be safe both before and during pregnancy.
Live virus vaccines, by contrast, are not recommended during pregnancy. Vaccines against varicella zoster, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox and yellow fever are examples. Ideally, a month or more should pass between such a vaccination and pregnancy.
If an MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) or varicella vaccine is given by mistake during pregnancy, this is generally not considered a reason to end the pregnancy, since most reports indicate that the risk to the baby is only theoretical.