Abstract
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.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Based on the principles outlined in this Committee Statement, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) makes the following recommendations:
- Obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals should routinely assess their pregnant patients’ vaccination status.
- Obstetrician–gynecologists and other obstetric care professionals should recommend and, when possible, administer needed vaccines to their pregnant patients.
- Individuals who are or will be pregnant during the fall/winter respiratory illness season should receive annual influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines.
- All pregnant individuals should receive a Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) vaccine during each pregnancy, as early in the 27–36 gestational-week window as possible.
- All eligible pregnant individuals who meet criteria should receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
- Other vaccines may be recommended during pregnancy depending on the patient’s age, prior immunizations, comorbidities, or disease risk factors.