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Immunizations                                                                    

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If a patient is thinking about getting pregnant, the best time to make sure her immunizations are up to date is before she gets pregnant, ideally at her annual checkup. Because some vaccine-preventable diseases can be dangerous in pregnancy, good preconception care involves keeping patients’ immunity in mind.

 

 

The General Idea

 

  • Give live vaccines at least 1 month prior to conception. The rest of them can be given during pregnancy, if needed.

  • The biggest risks/potential problems in the U.S. are rubella, varicella, and HBV.1

    • Keeping up with reproductive age patients’ immune status for these diseases can help optimize maternal-fetal outcomes.

    1. AAP and ACOG. Guidelines for perinatal care [Internet]. 6th ed. American Academy of Pediatrics and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2007 Jan. Chapter, Antepartum care; [cited 2009 Jul 20]; [about 50 p].