(Family Features) A new year can bring feelings of hope and optimism. This can be especially true for pregnant people as they look forward to the arrival of their baby. Keeping themselves and their baby healthy is also a great New Year’s goal, and in the colder months, that means avoiding respiratory illnesses. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV – which are common in many parts of the country right now – can become severe, sometimes requiring hospital care.
Vaccines are the best protection against severe respiratory illness. They cut your risk of being in the hospital for flu or COVID-19 by about half and for RSV by about 70%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines help pregnant people risk less severe illness and focus on preparing for their new baby.
How do vaccines protect pregnant people and babies?
Flu, COVID-19 and RSV can be very harmful to infants, especially in their first 6 months of life. Infants are at higher risk for serious flu-related illness and are hospitalized for COVID-19 at about the same rate as adults ages 65-74. RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization.
Getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 during your pregnancy can provide protection from serious respiratory illness for both you and for your infant in their first 6 months. Your immunity is passed along to your baby before birth.
An RSV vaccine during pregnancy can also protect your baby from severe RSV in their first 6 months. An RSV vaccine is recommended during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy if that period falls from September through January when RSV is more common.
It is safe for a pregnant person to get these vaccines at the same time. Any side effects from the vaccines are usually mild and go away on their own in a few days.
Get vaccinated for a healthy new year
Talk to your doctor or visit cdc.gov/RiskLessDoMore to learn more about flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. Find a pharmacy near you at vaccines.gov. You can also order free COVID-19 test kits (up to four per household) at COVIDTests.gov.
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