Is It Safe To Take Tdap Vaccine During Pregnancy?
Tdap vaccine protects the mother and the baby from three highly contagious diseases.
Specialty: Obstetrics & GynecologyExperience: 14 yearsDr. Ahmar Shah works as a gynecologist at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset UK, where he is a clinical director of Obstetrics and Gynecology, leading the colposcopy service. He graduated in medicine from the University of Karachi and got trained in obstetrics and gynecology in the UK (Eastern Deanery - Cambridge).
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In This Article
Tdap is the abbreviated form for tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine. Tdap vaccine during pregnancy is administered to protect the mother and the baby from infectious diseases, namely, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. All these three diseases are highly contagious. In addition, whooping cough (pertussis), commonly seen in newborns, can cause fatal complications and is responsible for mortality in babies within the first two months (1).
Read on to know more about the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, including its safety and recommended guidelines for pregnant women.
Can You Receive The Tdap Shot While Pregnant?
Yes, it is safe and necessary to take the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy as this is an effective way to protect the mom-to-be and her baby from serious illnesses and complications of the diseases. Tdap vaccine is given in the form of an intramuscular injection. As per revised guidelines of ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), US, Tdap is included in the immunization schedule of every pregnancy (2).
When And Why Should A Pregnant Woman Receive Tdap Vaccine?
According to the recommendations of CDC, the American Academy Of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, every woman should receive a Tdap vaccine in her third trimester, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation in each pregnancy (3).
Below are the benefits of taking the Tdap vaccine in pregnancy (4).
- Whooping cough (pertussis) is highly contagious and can be fatal to newborns. Getting a Tdap vaccine is the only way to prevent the chances of infection in babies.
- Tdap vaccination in pregnancy provides the baby passive immunity against three contagious diseases.
- Vaccinating the mother in her pregnancies ensures that the babies get maximum antibodies.
- The effectiveness of Tdap is reportedly very high in safeguarding infants against pertussis.
- Tdap is a safe vaccine with little known side effects.
How Does Tdap Protect Newborns?
Immunization during pregnancy is recommended throughout the world, as it prevents the occurrence of deadly infections and diseases in the mother and her baby.
The Tdap vaccine consists of inactivated forms of tetanus toxoids (chemically modified toxins), diphtheria, and an acellular form of pertussis antigens. This combination vaccine is known to elicit an active immune response in the mother’s body by developing antibodies and antitoxins against the toxoids and acellular pertussis antigens (5). In addition, immunization is an additional benefit to the unborn babies as the antibodies are transferred to them in the womb via the mother’s placenta, giving the baby passive immunity.
What Are The Risks And Side Effects Of Tdap Vaccine?
As per studies, there is no discrete increase in the risk of preterm birth, structural birth defects, or other adverse birth outcomes due to this vaccine. However, a minor population of women was at a higher risk of hypersensitivity because of the tetanus component of the Tdap vaccine (6).
Overall, the vaccine is very safe for you and your baby. The vaccine does not cause any side effects on pregnancy and childbirth (4). Some women may experience minor side effects, which may include the following (7).
- Tenderness, redness, or irritation in the site of injection
- Pain and swelling in the arm
- Loss of appetite
- Headache
- Fever and body aches
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I had Tdap in my last pregnancy. Do I need it again?
Yes, all pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy.
2. Can I receive the Tdap vaccine while breastfeeding?
Yes, getting vaccinated while breastfeeding is safe for you and your baby. You can pass some protective antibodies through breast milk to your baby (8).
3. Can I wait and get Tdap after I deliver?
If you never received a Tdap vaccine before or during pregnancy, you can get it after delivery (8). You could pass antibodies through breastfeeding, but it may not as be as significant as passing antibodies to the baby in the womb. Moreover, babies of women vaccinated with Tdap in pregnancy have better protection. According to a study, getting a Tdap vaccine in the third trimester (27 to 36 weeks of gestation) lowers the risk of whooping cough in infants by 75% (9).
4. How many Tdap vaccines do I have to take during pregnancy?
ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices), US recommends that a single vaccine dose of Tdap be given to pregnant women. Therefore, there is no need for a second dose if pregnant women have already received a Tdap shot in the course of their pregnancy (10).
5. Can the Tdap vaccine cause miscarriage?
No. The Tdap vaccine is not associated with adverse effects such as miscarriage. It does not increase the risk of any maternal and fetal complications (8).
Tdap vaccine during pregnancy helps protect the mother to be and the developing fetus from several infections and illnesses. The family members of the mother to be and her caregivers must keep themselves updated with the vaccination schedules (6) and get themselves and the expecting mother properly immunized before the arrival of the baby. The baby’s vaccinations can be done after they are born, but the mother needs to vaccinate herself to ensure that the baby is kept safe until then in the most vulnerable moments (11).
Key Pointers
- Tdap vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent your unborn baby from serious illnesses – Pertussis (whooping cough), Diptheria, and Tetanus.
- Apex health organization advises pregnant women to get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation in each pregnancy.
- Some women may experience minor side effects, such as pain and swelling in the arm, redness or irritation at the injection site, fever, and body aches.
References
- Tdap (Pertussis) Vaccine and Pregnancy.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/hcp-toolkit/tdap-vaccine-pregnancy.html - Michelle Housey et al., Vaccination with tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine of pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25254561/ - Get the Whooping Cough Vaccine During Each Pregnancy.
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/get-vaccinated.html - Whooping Cough Vaccines are Safe but Side Effects Can Occur.
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/safety-side-effects.html - Shawnna A. Ogden et al., Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis (DTaP) Vaccine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545173/ - Pregnancy and Whooping Cough.
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/hcp/vaccine-safety.html - Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.
https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/whooping-cough-vaccination/ - Get the Whooping Cough Vaccine During Each Pregnancy.
https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/get-vaccinated.html - Tami H Skoff et al., Impact of the US Maternal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccination Program on Preventing Pertussis in Infants https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29028938/
- Frequently Asked Questions for Pregnant Women Concerning Tdap Vaccination.
https://www.wvdhhr.org/rfts/pdf/FAQ_Pregnant_Women_TDAP.pdf - Roger Baxter, et al., Effectiveness of Vaccination During Pregnancy to Prevent Infant Pertussis.
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/139/5/e20164091
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Read full bio of Dr. Ahmar Shah
