Time to roll up your sleeve for your flu shot! Getting the flu shot each year is a must for everyone, but this seasonal vaccine is especially important for moms-to-be, says both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).[1]
That’s because if you come down with influenza (aka the flu) when you’re expecting, you’re at greater risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia or other acute respiratory illnesses, which could land you in the hospital. Another huge reason to get the flu shot during pregnancy is that it helps protect your baby after she’s born and until she’s old enough for her own shot at 6 months old.
"One of the most important things a pregnant woman can do to protect herself and her baby during flu season is to get vaccinated," says Shannon Smith, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and partner at Brigham Faulkner Ob/Gyn Associates in Boston, Massachusetts, and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board.
Read on for some of the most common questions and answers about the flu shot and pregnancy, including the best time to receive yours.
Getting the flu shot during pregnancy is safe and recommended by leading expert groups, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College for Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). This seasonal vaccine has been given safely to millions of pregnant women over many years.
Pregnant women and newborn babies are both more vulnerable to flu complications, and the flu shot offers critical protection for you both. The flu shot significantly lowers your risk of getting the flu or developing dangerous complications if you do catch it. Research also shows that babies whose moms got the flu vaccine during pregnancy are less likely to catch the virus after they're born.
You should get your flu shot every year as early as you can during each flu season, preferably by early to late October. This will ensure you have as much protection as possible. But it’s never too late to get immunized. So if you haven’t yet been vaccinated against the flu this year, go now!
Is the flu shot during pregnancy safe?
Yes, the flu shot during pregnancy is safe and effective. The seasonal flu shot has been given safely to millions of pregnant women over many years and has not been shown to cause harm to expecting moms or their babies. What’s more, it offers critical protection to you and baby at a time when you’re both more vulnerable to complications from the flu.[2]
After your baby is born, it’s also safe and strongly recommended to get the flu shot if you’re breastfeeding. In fact, women who get the flu vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding also develop antibodies against flu that they can share with their infants through their breast milk.
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“I got [the flu shot] during my pregnancy last year,” says What to Expect Community user secondtimearound2026. “It’s safe and recommended. I’m exclusively breastfeeding now and I’ll get it this fall as well.”
Should I get the flu shot while I'm pregnant?
You should definitely get the flu shot when you’re pregnant. The flu can be dangerous during pregnancy, since pregnant women are at a higher risk of (and more likely to be hospitalized with) serious flu complications like pneumonia.
"Pregnancy naturally weakens the immune system and places increased demands on the heart and lungs, making expectant mothers more vulnerable to severe illness from the flu," Dr. Smith explains. "This can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, and even preterm delivery."
Getting the flu shot each year, including when you’re pregnant, offers the greatest protection against the influenza viruses that are expected to cause the most problems in a particular year. It also significantly increases the chance that you will escape the season flu-free.
Plus, on the off-chance that you get the vaccine and still get sick with the flu, having the flu shot means your symptoms will probably be milder and you'll be less likely to develop complications that require hospitalization.
What's more, getting the flu shot during pregnancy isn’t just for your own protection: Your growing baby benefits too, even after you've given birth. Plenty of research shows that babies whose moms got the flu vaccine during pregnancy are less likely to catch the virus after they're born, and they have some protection against the virus until they’re old enough to get their own shot at 6 months.[3]
In addition, babies whose moms got the flu shot while pregnant are also less likely to be born prematurely, are bigger and healthier, and are even less likely to be hospitalized from the flu or its complications during the first year compared to babies whose moms weren't vaccinated.
“I got mine,” says What to Expect Community user smallfry1228. “It’s safe for baby and I want to be protected heading into flu season.”
Track pregnancy vaccine and appointment reminders in the What to Expect app, where you can get trimester-specific health guidance and connect with other expectant moms.
Where can I get a flu shot when I'm pregnant?
Many OB/GYN, midwife, and family medicine practices offer the flu shot to pregnant patients. You can also stop by a flu shot clinic at your local pharmacy or supermarket.
And since the CDC puts pregnant women at the top of the priority list for getting the flu shot (along with the elderly and children), you’ll likely head to the front of the line, even if the vaccine is in short supply.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to stick with the needle when it comes to your seasonal flu vaccine, since the nasal spray vaccine (which is made from live flu virus) is not approved for pregnant women.[4]
When should I get a flu shot during pregnancy?
Flu season can last from as early as October until as late as May. The CDC recommends getting a flu shot as early in each flu season as possible (preferably by early to late October) so you’re protected from the start.
But it’s never too late to get immunized. So if you haven’t yet been vaccinated against the flu this year, go now! And remember: The vaccine is updated yearly, and immunity wanes with time — so even if you got the flu shot last year, you need to get one again this season.
Does the flu shot have mercury in it?
Only some multi-dose flu vaccines contain a tiny amount of thimerosal, an ethyl mercury-based compound that’s used to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in multi-dose vials. Research has repeatedly proven that exposure to thimerosal in this (or any) vaccine is not harmful, although it may cause minor redness and swelling at the injection site.
Both the CDC and ACOG say that thimerosal is safe for pregnant women and doesn't cause any harm to them or their growing babies. But if you’re still uneasy about it, you can ask for a thimerosal-free flu shot.
Bottom line: It’s understandable if you have concerns about the flu shot during pregnancy. But there are many reasons to get this seasonal vaccine when you’re pregnant. The flu shot helps keep you and your little one safe at a time when you’re both more susceptible to dangerous flu complications.
"Even if you’ve never gotten the flu vaccine before or haven’t been seriously ill from the flu in the past, pregnancy is a critical time to take extra precautions," Dr. Smith says. "Getting vaccinated is a simple but powerful way to protect both you and your baby."
As always, if you still have any questions or concerns, discuss them with your doctor. Hopefully, they’ll be able to reassure you and help ease any doubts you might have.
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