Vaccines During Pregnancy: Protecting Moms and Babies
Respiratory illness season is here, making vaccination especially important for pregnant women and their babies. Vaccination during pregnancy helps protect the mother from severe illness and allows her to pass protective antibodies to her baby. These antibodies help protect the baby from birth through the first months of life, when infants are particularly vulnerable. Vaccination is one of the best tools available to protect pregnant women and their babies during respiratory illness season.
CVEEP and Vaccinate Your Family co-hosted a discussion on the importance of vaccines for pregnant women, including flu, COVID-19, Tdap, and RSV, and what you need to know about maternal vaccination during respiratory season. Experts in maternal and public health discussed the latest recommendations and coverage considerations, vaccination timing during pregnancy, and the protection that maternal vaccination extends to babies.
Panelists included:
- Beth Battaglino, RN-C, CEO, HealthyWomen
- Naima T. Joseph, MD, MPH, Vice Chair of the Infectious Diseases and Emerging Threats Committee, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Ilan Shapiro, MD, MBA, Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, AltaMed
- Marie Ramas, MD, FAAFP, Immediate Past Chair of the Commission on Health of the Public and Science, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
- Moderator: Serese Marotta, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Vaccinate Your Family