Pregnancy Vaccines: Protecting You & Baby

1 week ago

Taking care of yourself during pregnancy is essential for both your well-being and the future health of your baby. During the antenatal period, your OBGYN or GP will recommend a set of vaccines to help support a healthy pregnancy.

Here are some of the vaccines that are commonly recommended:

Flu (Influenza) Vaccine

During pregnancy, your immune system is weakened, making it harder to fight off infections like the flu, and increasing the risk of complications if you do contract it. The flu vaccine is completely safe, as it is an inactivated vaccine. It provides protection for both you and your baby, especially since babies under six months old are too young to receive the vaccine themselves. The flu vaccine is safe to have at any stage of your pregnancy.

Whooping Cough Vaccine (Tdap / Single Pertussis vaccine)

Young babies are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough, which can lead to serious complications and often requires hospitalization. To protect your baby, pregnant women are recommended to get the whooping cough (Pertussis) vaccine, as the antibodies produced will pass through the placenta and offer protection. The vaccine is typically given as part of a combined Tdap vaccine, which also provides protection against Tetanus and Diphtheria. It is recommended to get the Tdap vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. In Singapore, a stand-alone Pertussis vaccine is also available and can be given anytime during the second or third trimester, at least two weeks before delivery. It is advised to receive a new Pertussis vaccine during each pregnancy to ensure protection for each baby.

RSV – Respiratory Syncytial Virus

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common virus that causes cold-like symptoms such as cough and a runny nose. It can be particularly serious for babies, potentially leading to pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Receiving the RSV vaccine during pregnancy helps protect your baby from RSV during the first six months of life. In Singapore, the vaccine is licensed to be administered between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, although some countries may offer it earlier.

Covid 19 Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women, as it is an inactivated vaccine. Pregnancy increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19, and infections later in pregnancy may pose risks to your baby. The vaccine is safe to receive at any stage of your pregnancy.

It’s important to note that live vaccines (such as Yellow Fever or MMR – Measles, Mumps, Rubella) are not recommended during pregnancy. If receiving one of these vaccines is absolutely necessary, be sure to consult with your OBGYN first.

Having family and friends visit after the birth is always a joy. However, caregivers or family members who will be spending significant time with your baby should also ensure their immunisations are up to date. It is recommended that they are current with their Pertussis (Whooping Cough) and Influenza vaccines to help protect the baby from the risk of infection.

We offer a large range of vaccines at IMC, including the first 3 of the above vaccines (Influenza, Tdap and RSV). Please do book an appointment with your GP to discuss this further if you would like to be up to date with your pregnancy vaccines. Covid 19 vaccinations are provided free of charge by the Ministry of Health. You may find your nearest Covid 19 vaccine provider using the following link: https://www.gowhere.gov.sg/vaccine/.