Immunizing the pregnant woman. Risks versus benefits

Postgrad Med. 1987 Jun;81(8):103-8, 113. doi: 10.1080/00325481.1987.11699862.

Abstract

No substance should be administered unnecessarily during pregnancy. However, when a pregnant woman is not immune to serious disease, the risk of maternal and fetal infection must be weighed against the risk of vaccination. Whenever possible, an inactivated (killed) vaccine should be selected and immunization delayed until the second trimester. Only rarely is an attenuated (live) vaccine indicated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunization* / adverse effects
  • Immunization, Passive / adverse effects
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Risk
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / adverse effects
  • Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Attenuated
  • Viral Vaccines