Maternal Immunizations

Immunization is an essential part of preventive care for adults, including pregnant individuals. Each vaccine recommended for pregnant patients is important for the protection of the maternal-child dyad. Other vaccines provide maternal protection from severe morbidity related to specific pathogens such as pneumococcus, meningococcus, and hepatitis for at-risk pregnant individuals. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals should routinely assess their pregnant patients' vaccination status, including their risk factors for vaccine-preventable diseases. Based on this assessment they should recommend and, when possible, administer needed vaccines to their pregnant patients. There is no evidence of adverse fetal effects from vaccinating pregnant women with mRNA-derived vaccines, inactivated virus vaccines, bacterial vaccines, or toxoids. Real-world data continue to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of such use. Certain vaccines should be given in the postpartum period.