Vaccination and pregnancy

During pregnancy, vaccine-preventable diseases can make you sick and, in some cases, can be passed along to your baby. Pregnancy affects your immune system and can increase your risk of severe outcomes if you become infected. Vaccines help protect you and your baby by preparing your immune system to recognize and destroy specific germs. Your vaccinations also help protect your baby after birth, until they are old enough to get their own vaccinations. For unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals, diseases can also lead to:

• birth defects
• preterm labour and premature birth
• miscarriage (losing a baby before birth)
• death

• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough), and Tdap
• Influenza
• COVID-19

Depending on your risk factors, your health care provider may recommend other vaccines during pregnancy.

You should also make sure everyone in your household is up to date with their vaccines. Since babies’ immune systems are not mature, they can become seriously ill if exposed to disease. Newborns are also too young to receive most vaccines, so the best way to protect them is for those around them to provide protection.

Talk to a health care provider for more information on which vaccines you should and shouldn't get during pregnancy.