Pregnancy And Vaccines

Women should realize the importance of up-to-date immunizations. They should also know that they are susceptible to diseases that can harm them or their unborn child and hence talk to their physicians to understand which vaccines to take and whether they should get them during pregnancy or wait till the child is born.

All vaccines are tested for purity, potency and safety under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observe the safety of each vaccine till it is used. Some people may be allergic to an ingredient in a vaccine and should not receive the vaccine until the doctors recommend.

Hepatitis B, Influenza, and Tetanus/Diphtheria can be given to women at the time of pregnancy to avoid risk of infection. To avoid miscarriage, premature birth or birth defects the vaccines like Hepatitis A, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella, PneumococcalOral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) should be avoided. Side effects might occur up to three weeks after vaccination.

The side effects caused by the vaccinations are:

Hepatitis A causes soreness and redness at injection site, fatigue, headache, severe allergic reaction in very cases. Hepatitis B also causes soreness at injection site and also fever. Influenza causes redness and swelling at injection site that can last 48 hours and also fever. Tetanus/Diphtheria also causes soreness and swelling at injection site and low-grade fever. Due to Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccines non-contagious rash, swelling of neck glands and cheeks, pain and stiffness of joints occurs 1 to 2 weeks after vaccination. Varicella causes fever, also soreness or redness at injection site, rash or small bumps up to three weeks after vaccination. Pneumococcal vaccine causes fever and soreness at injection site. Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) doesn't cause any side effects. After Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) redness and discomfort occurs at injection site

Pregnant women or planning to become pregnant should not take the smallpox vaccine within 4 weeks. Anyone who has a close contact who is pregnant should not get the vaccine

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