Pregnant? You Need a Flu Shot!

Information for pregnant woman 

Flu can be a serious illness, especially when you 

are pregnant.

Getting flu can cause serious problems when you are pregnant. Even if you 

are generally healthy, changes in immune, heart, and lung functions during 

pregnancy make you more likely to get severely ill from flu. Pregnant women 

(and women up to two weeks postpartum) who get flu are at high risk of 

developing serious illness, including being hospitalized.

Flu shots are the best available protection for you – and 

your baby.

When you get your flu shot, your body starts to make antibodies that help 

protect you against flu. Antibodies are also passed on to your developing 

baby, and help protect them for several months after birth. This is important 

because babies younger than 6 months old are too young to get a flu vaccine. 

If you breastfeed your infant, antibodies also can be passed through breast 

milk. It takes about two weeks for your body to make antibodies after getting 

a flu vaccine. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or clinic about getting vaccinated by 

the end of October. 

Flu shots are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

You can get a flu shot at any time, during any trimester, while you are 

pregnant. Millions of pregnant women have gotten flu shots. Flu shots have 

a good safety record. There is a lot of evidence that flu vaccines can be given 

safely during pregnancy, though these data are limited for the first trimester.

If you deliver your baby before getting your flu 

shot, you should still get vaccinated. Flu is spread 

from person to person. You, or others who care for 

your baby, may get sick with flu, and spread it to 

your baby. It is important that everyone who cares 

for your baby get a flu vaccine, including other 

household members, relatives, and babysitters. 

Common side effects of a flu vaccine 

are mild.

After getting your flu shot, you may experience 

some mild side effects. The most common side 

effects include soreness, tenderness, redness and/

or swelling where the shot was given. Sometimes 

you might have a headache, muscle aches, fever, 

and nausea or feel tired. The flu is a serious 

illness, especially when you are pregnant.

Because you are pregnant, 

CDC and your ob-gyn or 

Because you are pregnant, 

Because you are 

pregnant CDC and 

your ob-gyn or midwife 

recommend you get 

a flu shot to protect 

yourself and your baby 

from flu.

You should get 

vaccinated by the end 

of October, if possible. 

This timing can help 

ensure that you are 

protected before flu 

activity begins to 

increase. Talk to your 

ob-gyn or midwife 

about getting a flu shot.

Last Updated 1/10/2018
If you have flu symptoms, call your doctor immediately. 

If you get flu symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, body aches headache, etc.) – even if you have already had a flu shot – 

call your doctor, nurse, or clinic right away. Doctors can prescribe influenza antiviral medicine to treat flu. Antiviral 

drugs can shorten your flu illness, make it milder and lessen the chance of developing serious complications. 

Because pregnant women are at high risk of developing serious flu complications, CDC recommends that they 

be treated quickly with antiviral drugs if they get flu symptoms. Oral oseltamivir is the preferred treatment for 

pregnant women because it has the most data available to suggest that it is safe and beneficial. These medicines 

work best when started early.

Fever is often a symptom of flu. Having a fever early in pregnancy increases the chances of having a baby with birth 

defects or other problems. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®or brand store equivalent) can reduce a fever, but you should 

still call your doctor or nurse and tell them about your illness.

If you have any of the following 

signs, call 911 and seek emergency 

medical care right away:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness 

of breath

• Persistent pain or pressure in the

chest or abdomen

• Persistent dizziness, or confusion, 

or drowsiness. 

• Severe or constant vomiting

• Seizures 

• Not urinating 

• Severe muscle pain

• Severe weakness or

 unsteadiness 

• Fever or cough that 

 improves, but then returns 

 or worsens 

• Decreased or no movement of

your baby

• High fever that is not responding

to Acetaminophen (Tylenol® or

brand store equivalent). 

 CS HCVG15-MAT-106 09/10/2020

For more information about the flu or the vaccine, 

call: 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit: www.cdc.gov/flu/