Before the start of pregnancy, vaccination protection for “childhood diseases” such as rubella, chickenpox, measles and mumps should be checked. Vaccination with live vaccines is not indicated during pregnancy as it can cause permanent damage to the fetus. These vaccines can pass through the placenta and thus infect the newborn. Vaccinations with live vaccines such as rubella, measles, mumps, chickenpox and tuberculosis should therefore only be carried out in women of childbearing age under strict contraceptive protection. After vaccination, pregnancy must be ruled out for three months.
A pregnant woman should definitely be vaccinated against tetanus, as the pathogen can be found everywhere in the world. In addition, the mother transfers her tetanus antibodies to the child, thereby protecting the newborn from infection. Most often, the tetanus vaccination is boosted in combination with the diphtheria vaccination.
Inactivated vaccines and toxoid vaccines are also considered safe during pregnancy. Nevertheless, a vaccination should only be carried out in the second trimester of pregnancy and the risks and benefits should be weighed up individually. In principle, there is a risk of harming the unborn child through vaccinations during pregnancy. That’s why you should only carry out really urgent vaccinations during pregnancy. This also applies to a vaccination against corona viruses, which should also be clarified with the doctor.
When traveling to endemic areas, the TBE vaccination can be administered during pregnancy, if possible from the 2nd trimester onwards, without there appearing to be any risk to the fetus. If a TBE vaccination was administered at the beginning of pregnancy (without knowing about the pregnancy), no harm to mother and child is to be expected.
Since the hepatitis A vaccination is an inactivated vaccine, it is considered safe during pregnancy. Hepatitis A infections are among the diseases frequently acquired while traveling and carry a high risk of premature birth and the risk of serious maternal illness. A hepatitis B vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, but vaccination of pregnant women is also possible if there is an acute risk of infection. However, since this is a vaccine produced genetically in yeast cells, no harm to the fruit or fetus is expected when vaccinated during pregnancy.
Poliomeyelitis (child paralysis) is currently a rare disease in pregnancy. If an infection occurs during pregnancy, children will experience paralysis and growth retardation. It can be used without risk to pregnancy.
Further topics on health and medicine