Why Do You Need a Tdap in Each and Every Pregnancy?
The Real Truth About Vaccines
Getting a Tdap vaccine during each and every pregnancy is important, even if you have recently been pregnant multiple times.
That’s hard for some people to understand, after all, it means getting the vaccine sooner than you normally would.
Why Do You Need a Tdap in Each and Every Pregnancy?
Remember, the routine schedule is that we get a Tdap vaccine every ten years, with an extra booster after five years, if you had been exposed to tetanus.
The routine Tdap schedule during pregnancy is different though.
“All pregnant women should get a Tdap shot during each pregnancy between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.”
ACOG
It calls for a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, even if you had already received a dose during a recent, past pregnancy.
And it means that you will need to get another Tdap vaccine if you soon have another baby!
Why?
“Getting the shot early in the window of 27 to 36 weeks is best. This timing maximizes the antibodies present at birth and will provide the most protection to your newborn.”
ACOG
The pertussis antibodies these Tdap doses generate get transferred on to your baby and protects them during their early months until their own vaccine doses take effect.
And unfortunately, without these extra booster doses, you would not transfer enough pertussis antibodies to have a protective effect.
Protection that is crucial for newborns and younger infants, especially as cases of pertussis, a life-threatening disease, continue to rise.
Also know that getting these frequent Tdap doses while pregnant has been well tested and is safe, both for those who receive the vaccine and for their babies.
“We did not find any differences in acute events in the mothers or adverse birth outcomes in neonates when comparing women who were vaccinated with Tdap during pregnancy regardless of the length of time since a prior tetanus-containing vaccine. Our findings should reassure patients and clinicians who might be hesitant to give Tdap vaccine to pregnant women who recently received a Tdap or other tetanus-containing vaccination.”
Association of Tdap Vaccination With Acute Events and Adverse Birth Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With Prior Tetanus-Containing Immunizations
So don’t skip or delay getting your dose of Tdap or any of your other recommended pregnancy vaccines.