Vaccines in Pregnancy: Protecting Your Baby from Flu, Whooping Cough and RSV

Some vaccines you get during pregnancy protect not only you but also your unborn baby. The antibodies your body makes in response to a vaccine pass to your baby through the placenta and protect them during the most vulnerable first months of life. This guide is based on information from Turkey's Ministry of Health, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Why is whooping cough so important? According to the CDC, about 7 in 10 deaths from whooping cough happen in babies younger than 2 months, and these babies are too young to get their own vaccines. Many babies with whooping cough do not cough at all; instead, they may stop breathing and turn blue. The Adana Provincial Health Directorate of Turkey's Ministry of Health notes that a baby's whooping cough vaccines start at 2 months, but protection is only reached after the second dose at 4 months, when the baby is about 5 months old. A vaccine given during pregnancy helps close this gap.

Tdap in national programs, Turkey's example: Programs differ from country to country. According to the General Directorate of Public Health of Turkey's Ministry of Health, an acellular whooping cough component was added to the tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine already given to pregnant women there, and since April 2025 one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) has been given in every pregnancy.

• In Turkey's program, Tdap replaces one of the Td doses planned according to vaccination history to prevent newborn tetanus.
• It is repeated as one dose in every pregnancy, so each new baby receives a high level of antibodies.
• According to information from a provincial health directorate under Turkey's ministry, there should be at least 4 weeks between Tdap and Td.
• Your doctor will tell you in which week of pregnancy to get the vaccine based on your country's schedule.

If you do not know your vaccination history, talk to your doctor. In Turkey, vaccines in the national program are given free of charge at family health centers; your country's program may be different, so ask your doctor.

Timing in other countries: The NHS recommends the whooping cough vaccine usually around week 20, from week 16 onward, and says it is best given before week 32 for the best protection, though it can still be given later if missed. The CDC recommends it in every pregnancy between weeks 27 and 36, preferably early in that window. These differences come from each country's own program; following the schedule of the country you live in is enough.

Flu vaccine: The NHS notes that during pregnancy the immune system is weakened to protect the pregnancy, and that pregnant women more often have flu complications such as pneumonia and need to be hospitalized. According to the NHS, studies show the flu vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy; it protects you and also helps protect your baby in the first months after birth. The flu vaccine given as an injection in pregnancy is inactivated, which means it does not contain live virus and cannot give you the flu. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as other pregnancy vaccines, and it is safe to breastfeed after getting it.

RSV vaccine: RSV is a common virus that usually causes a cold, but in babies it can lead to serious lung infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. The NHS says the RSV vaccine given in pregnancy passes protection to the baby and reduces the chance of severe RSV in the first 6 months after birth; it recommends the vaccine around week 28, and it can be given up until birth if needed. The CDC offers two options: a vaccine for the pregnant woman at weeks 32-36 between September and January, or a preventive product for babies 8 months or younger during their first RSV season. Whether the RSV vaccine is routinely given to pregnant women varies from country to country; ask your doctor whether it is right for you.

Live vaccines: According to the NHS, vaccines that contain live viruses, such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), are usually postponed until after birth because they carry a theoretical risk of infection to the baby. The NHS also notes that there is no evidence that any live vaccine causes birth defects. The CDC also recommends getting the MMR vaccine before pregnancy if it is missing, and, as a precaution, not getting pregnant for one month after the vaccine. If you are planning a pregnancy, reviewing your vaccination record and sharing it with your doctor is a good start.

If you are traveling: The NHS says some travel vaccines, such as yellow fever, have risks and that you should talk them over with your midwife or doctor. The CDC recommends that pregnant women traveling abroad see their doctor at least 4-6 weeks before the trip.

Safety: According to information from the Adana Provincial Health Directorate of Turkey's Ministry of Health, many studies show that the Tdap vaccine is safe in pregnancy; the World Health Organization and the CDC also recommend this vaccine in pregnancy. The NHS says the tetanus vaccine can be given safely in pregnancy when needed. The CDC notes that in moms who wait until after birth to get the vaccine, protective antibodies do not form right away, and that it takes the body about 2 weeks to develop antibodies.

When to talk to your doctor or midwife?

• If you do not know your vaccination history or do not remember whether you have had a tetanus vaccine before.
• If you are halfway through your pregnancy and the topic of the Tdap vaccine has not come up yet.
• If flu season is approaching or you are curious about the RSV vaccine.
• If you are planning to travel abroad.
• Call your local emergency number: If after a vaccine you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing or swelling of the face and lips that develops quickly. The NHS notes that such reactions are very rare and that the health care workers giving vaccines are trained to deal with them.

Dear mom-to-be, every vaccine you get during pregnancy is one of the first gifts you give your baby before they are even born. Do not hesitate to ask your family doctor or obstetrician any question on your mind; together you can work out the right schedule.