In plain words
A live attenuated vaccine uses a weakened form of a germ that can still grow in the body. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and chickenpox vaccine are examples. Because the germ is alive, these vaccines are generally avoided during pregnancy. Clinicians usually give them before pregnancy, when that is possible. Many other vaccines are made without a live germ, and some of those are recommended in pregnancy, including some that protect the baby after birth. The list changes as research grows. Ask your provider which vaccines fit your situation and when. If you think you were exposed to a disease such as chickenpox during pregnancy, call your provider the same day.
The deeper version
Live attenuated vaccines contain replication-competent organisms with reduced virulence, such as MMR, varicella, and live attenuated influenza vaccine. Recommendations generally contraindicate live vaccines in pregnancy because of theoretical risk of transplacental transmission and fetal harm, although few or no cases of harm have been documented after inadvertent administration. ACOG Committee Opinion 741 (2018) on maternal immunization and CDC immunization guidance advise avoiding pregnancy for a set period after MMR and varicella vaccination. Inactivated and recombinant vaccines are recommended in pregnancy for several indications, including influenza, , and RSV where applicable. The controversy concerns counseling after inadvertent live vaccination, and live vaccine use in people with immune compromise.
Where it comes up
- The preconception visitBefore Pregnancy
- Travel during pregnancyPregnancy: Mind and Life
- Vaccines: the baby's schedule and who around the babyBaby Basics
What mothers here say about live attenuated vaccine
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Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Committee Opinion No. 741: Maternal Immunization, 2018
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization