Vaccines are a safe and effective way to help protect pregnant people and their babies from serious cases of flu, COVID-19, whooping cough, and RSV. Use these talking points to communicate with pregnant people about what vaccines they should receive, when, and why.
“Communicating About Vaccines During Pregnancy” references the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) as an expert source on vaccines for pregnant people. Expert sources are evidence-based, scientifically rigorous, and timely. Some of the information in this resource differs from information shared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
ACOG’s 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule
On June 10, 2026, ACOG released its first-ever 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule — an independent, evidence-based resource for clinicians, public health agencies, and patients. The schedule is endorsed by 13 medical societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and differs from federal vaccine recommendations.
The messages in this resource are consistent with and informed by ACOG’s 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule.
Recommended Vaccines for Pregnant People
ACOG recommends flu, COVID-19, and Tdap vaccination during pregnancy, as well as the RSV vaccine for pregnant people who meet the timing and eligibility criteria.
Flu Vaccine
- When: During any trimester of pregnancy, any time of year, although it’s best to receive it in early fall.
- Why: Pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of more severe flu illness, which places both the pregnant person and fetus at significant risk.
- Understanding the Protection it Provides: The flu vaccine prevents severe flu illness during pregnancy. Getting the flu vaccine while pregnant also provides protection to your baby until they can get the flu vaccine at age 6 months.
COVID-19 Vaccine
- When: During any trimester of pregnancy, any time of year, although it’s best to receive it in early fall.
- Why: Pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of more severe COVID-19 illness, which places both the pregnant person and fetus at significant risk.
- Understanding the Protection it Provides: The COVID-19 vaccine prevents severe COVID-19 illness during pregnancy. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant also provides protection to your baby until they can get the COVID-19 vaccine at age 6 months.
Tdap Vaccine (Prevents Whooping Cough, Tetanus, and Diphtheria)
- When: ACOG recommends receiving the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy.
- Why: Whooping cough is potentially deadly in the neonatal period, and there are few ways for a pregnant person to prevent their baby from getting seriously ill other than vaccination.
- Understanding the Protection it Provides: Getting the Tdap vaccine while pregnant protects your baby against severe whooping cough until they can get the Tdap vaccine at age 2 months.
Pfizer RSV Vaccine
- When: ACOG recommends a single dose of Pfizer’s RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, between 32 weeks 0 days and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation, administered during September through January in most of the United States. States and jurisdictions with different RSV seasonality, like more tropical or colder climates, should follow state, local, or territorial guidance. If the pregnancy’s 32–36 week window falls outside of September–January, the vaccine is simply not given.
- Important note on repeat vaccination: Repeat maternal RSV vaccination in a subsequent pregnancy is not recommended if the pregnant person has already received Abrysvo. In subsequent pregnancies, infants should instead receive a monoclonal antibody to protect against RSV, if recommended by a healthcare professional. Monoclonal antibodies may also be used as an alternative to maternal RSV vaccination in any pregnancy.
- Why: RSV can cause severe illness in newborns. Getting vaccinated ensures the baby is born with antibodies that protect against severe RSV.
- Understanding the Protection it Provides: Getting the RSV vaccine while pregnant protects your baby against severe RSV for the first six months after birth.
Safety and Effectiveness
- Extensive research shows that vaccines do not cause autism, birth defects, or pregnancy complications. Vaccines have been safely used during millions of pregnancies for decades.
- Babies under six months are too young for many vaccines, including the flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy is a safe and effective way to protect babies from severe disease and death during their first few months of life.
- Pregnant people are at higher risk for serious illnesses, such as serious flu and COVID-19 illness, than people who aren’t pregnant. Vaccines offer the best protection.
Explaining the Use of ACOG Guidance
At a time of significant change in federal health policy, the ACOG’s 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule provides:
- Clinical expertise: ACOG represents the clinical specialists who care for pregnant people every day. Its recommendations are developed by its Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group and are grounded in peer-reviewed scientific evidence.
- Broad professional consensus: ACOG’s 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule is endorsed by 13 medical and health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
- Independence from federal process: In February 2026, ACOG withdrew as a liaison organization to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), citing concerns that changes to the committee’s process “undermine the committee’s scientific integrity.” ACOG’s independent 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule ensures clinicians and the public continue to have access to evidence-based maternal vaccine guidance.
Primary source for this resource: 2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule | The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (published June 10, 2026)
