You are at higher risk for serious health problems from influenza when you are pregnant. If you get influenza while pregnant, you are at higher risk of being admitted to hospital. The illness may result in your baby being born too soon.
Getting the influenza vaccine will protect you and your baby while you are pregnant. The protection you get from the vaccine may transfer across the placenta and remain with your baby for a short time after birth.
When you’re immunized against influenza, your baby is less likely to:
- be born too soon
- be small for their gestational age
- have a low birth weight
The influenza vaccine is recommended every year because the influenza virus changes. You can get the influenza vaccine at any time during your pregnancy. The best time for you to get the influenza vaccine is October or November, before the influenza season begins. You can still get the vaccine at any time during the influenza season, which usually starts in late fall and lasts through the winter.
The inactivated (killed) influenza vaccine given as an injection is recommended if you are pregnant. Studies show that the inactivated influenza vaccine will not harm you or your baby.
The nasal spray influenza vaccine contains live virus, so it is not used during pregnancy. It is safe for you and your baby to have contact with someone who gets the nasal spray influenza vaccine.
Both types of influenza vaccines (injected and nasal spray) are safe to get when breastfeeding.
Learn more about the influenza vaccine.