In addition to the recommended vaccinations given according to age, from birth to adulthood, to stimulate immunity to various diseases, women should receive additional vaccinations due to their complex body functions. This is especially true during pregnancy, when the risk of various diseases which may affect the mother and fetus is increased.
Even though more than 50% of all pregnancies are unplanned, all women should, as a rule, receive certain vaccinations prior to pregnancy. The following are the most important vaccinations that every woman should receive:
It’s important to remember that women should use birth control for at least 1 month after receiving this particular vaccine. Some doctors may recommend at least 3 months depending on the vaccine brand. You can ask your doctor for details and recommendations. The use of birth control is necessary because it is a live attenuated vaccine and thus can result in disabilities in the fetus.
There are a number of vaccinations that are not prohibited during pregnancy. In fact, they are actually highly recommended during the prenatal period. An example of this is the influenza vaccine—if pregnant mothers have not received this particular vaccine within the past year, the doctor will recommend they receive vaccination against influenza after the first trimester of pregnancy. One dose of the Tdap vaccine is also recommended during the third trimester of pregnancy to protect against the occurrence of whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, and tetanus in newborns.
There are also certain vaccines that are prohibited during pregnancy, as these can infect the fetus and cause disability to various organs. These include the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, the shingles vaccine, and the mumps and rubella vaccine.
If you are planning a pregnancy you should consult a doctor for advice on the appropriate vaccinations to receive during each pregnancy trimester to ensure the safety and health of both mother and baby.
The Vaccination and Travel Medicine Center aims to educate patients about disease prevention and immunization. If you are preparing to travel to a different region of the world, it is important to be aware that there may be different endemic diseases to which you will have no pre-existing resistance. We provide consultation and vaccination services for Thai, expatriate and international travelers. We will discuss with you what health preparations are necessary and what precautions are advisable before embarking on a trip.
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