Some infections can be more serious during pregnancy or affect a developing baby. Checking your vaccination history before conception gives you time to receive vaccines that may be recommended before rather than during pregnancy.
Educational only — not medical advice. If you have urgent symptoms, seek medical care.
When preparing for pregnancy, you may think about:
folic acid
healthy food
your fertile window
medicines
But there is another important question:
“Are my vaccinations up to date?”
Some infections can cause more serious illness during pregnancy.
Others can affect the developing baby.
Checking before pregnancy gives you time to address gaps safely.
Before trying to conceive, review your vaccination history with a healthcare professional.
Vaccines that may be particularly relevant include protection against infections such as:
rubella
hepatitis B
influenza
tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis according to national recommendations
COVID-19 where recommended
other infections based on your age, health, occupation, travel and vaccination history
Not everyone needs every vaccine.
The right vaccines depend on your individual history and Ghana's current immunization recommendations.
There are two main reasons.
First:
some infections are particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
Second:
some vaccines are preferably given before pregnancy rather than during it.
If you wait until the pregnancy test is positive, some options may need to be postponed.
Many vaccines can be safely given around the time you are planning pregnancy.
But vaccines are not all the same.
A useful distinction is between:
live vaccines
and:
non-live vaccines.
This matters because certain live vaccines are generally avoided during pregnancy.
A live attenuated vaccine contains a weakened form of the organism that causes the infection.
It is weakened enough to stimulate immunity without causing the usual disease in healthy people.
Because of theoretical concerns about fetal infection, certain live vaccines are generally not recommended during pregnancy.
That is why checking your vaccination status before conception is useful.
Rubella—sometimes called German measles—can be mild in adults.
But infection during pregnancy, particularly early pregnancy, can have serious consequences for the developing baby.
It can cause congenital rubella syndrome.
This may affect:
hearing
vision
heart development
other organs
Preventing rubella before pregnancy is therefore important.
Your healthcare professional may review:
vaccination records
previous documented immunity
testing where appropriate
Do not assume you are unprotected simply because you cannot remember receiving the vaccine.
But if your vaccination status is uncertain, ask.
Rubella-containing vaccines such as MMR are live vaccines and are generally not given during pregnancy.
If vaccination is needed, it is usually given before conception or after pregnancy.
Guidance commonly recommends avoiding pregnancy for about one month after MMR vaccination.
Your healthcare professional should give you the specific recommendation that applies to the vaccine you receive.
Do not panic.
Accidental vaccination around conception is not usually considered a reason by itself to end a pregnancy.
Contact your healthcare professional so the situation can be reviewed appropriately.
Hepatitis B can cause chronic liver disease and can be transmitted from mother to baby.
If you are at risk and have not been vaccinated, hepatitis B vaccination may be recommended.
Risk factors may include:
occupational exposure to blood
living with someone with hepatitis B
sexual exposure
certain medical procedures or conditions
Your healthcare professional can determine whether vaccination or testing is appropriate.
Hepatitis B vaccines are non-live vaccines and may be used during pregnancy when indicated.
However, if you are planning pregnancy now, reviewing your status beforehand gives you an opportunity to begin or complete vaccination when appropriate.
Protection against tetanus is important for maternal and newborn health.
Recommendations vary according to:
previous vaccination
national immunization schedules
pregnancy history
In Ghana, maternal immunization services include tetanus-containing vaccination according to national guidance.
Your antenatal team will review this during pregnancy.
Whooping cough—pertussis—can be particularly dangerous for newborn babies.
In countries where maternal pertussis vaccination is recommended, it is usually given during a specific period of each pregnancy so maternal antibodies can pass to the baby.
This is different from vaccines that are mainly checked before conception.
Follow current Ghanaian guidance regarding availability and recommendations.
Pregnancy increases the risk of severe illness from influenza.
Inactivated influenza vaccines can be given during pregnancy and are recommended for pregnant people in many settings where available.
If you are planning pregnancy, ask about local recommendations and availability.
COVID-19 vaccination recommendations may change as evidence, circulating variants and national programmes evolve.
Pregnancy itself can increase the risk of severe COVID-19.
If you are planning pregnancy, ask your healthcare professional about the current Ghana Health Service recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination.
Varicella—or chickenpox—can cause serious illness during pregnancy and, in certain circumstances, affect the baby.
If you have never had chickenpox and have not been vaccinated, discuss this with a healthcare professional.
The varicella vaccine is a live vaccine and is generally given before, not during, pregnancy where it is indicated and available.
No.
The goal is not to restart your entire childhood vaccination schedule.
Your healthcare professional should determine:
what you have already received
whether you completed the recommended doses
whether boosters are required
whether particular risks apply to you
This happens frequently.
Tell the healthcare professional what you know.
Depending on the vaccine and your circumstances, they may use:
available medical records
your vaccination history
testing for immunity in selected situations
revaccination when appropriate
Do not let a missing card prevent you from asking.
No.
Routine blood testing for immunity to every vaccine-preventable infection is not necessary.
Testing is useful only in specific circumstances.
Your clinician can decide what is appropriate.
Travel can change your vaccination needs.
Some destinations may have risks such as:
yellow fever
hepatitis A
meningococcal disease
other infections
Some travel vaccines have special considerations around pregnancy.
If you are planning international travel and pregnancy at the same time, seek travel-health advice early.
Yellow fever vaccination is a live vaccine.
The decision around vaccination in someone who is pregnant or planning pregnancy depends on the actual risk of yellow fever exposure and travel requirements.
This can be particularly relevant for travellers from or within parts of Africa.
Do not make the decision based only on internet advice.
Discuss your destination and timing with a qualified healthcare professional or travel clinic.
Routine recommended vaccines have not been shown to cause infertility.
Claims that vaccination permanently damages fertility should be evaluated against reliable medical evidence.
If you have concerns about a specific vaccine, discuss the actual evidence with a healthcare professional.
No.
Your immune system encounters many substances every day.
Vaccination trains the immune system to recognize specific infections.
Receiving recommended vaccines does not use up your immune system or make it unable to support pregnancy.
Your partner should also be appropriately vaccinated.
This protects his health and can reduce the chance of bringing certain infections into the household.
This becomes particularly important once there is a newborn who may be too young to have completed their own vaccinations.
It depends on the vaccine.
For some vaccines, there is no need to delay conception.
For certain live vaccines, you may be advised to wait for a specified period after vaccination.
Ask:
“Do I need to wait before trying to conceive after this vaccine?”
Do not assume.
Tell your healthcare professional.
Whether remaining doses can be given during pregnancy depends on the specific vaccine.
Some can continue.
Others may be postponed.
Do not restart an entire series unless specifically advised.
If available, bring:
childhood vaccination records
previous antenatal records
vaccination cards
occupational vaccination records
travel vaccination certificates
Even incomplete records can help.
Before trying for pregnancy, ask:
Am I protected against rubella?
Do I need hepatitis B vaccination or testing?
Are my routine vaccines up to date?
Are there vaccines recommended because of my medical condition or job?
Am I travelling somewhere that changes my vaccination needs?
Is there any vaccine I need to receive before pregnancy rather than during it?
Do I need to wait before trying after any vaccine I receive?
Vaccination is part of preparing for pregnancy because some infections are easier to prevent before they threaten you or your baby.
The key is not to collect as many vaccines as possible.
It is to know:
what you have already received
what protection you need
which vaccines are best given before pregnancy
which are recommended during pregnancy.
Pay particular attention to rubella immunity, because rubella infection during early pregnancy can seriously affect fetal development and rubella-containing vaccines are generally not given once you are pregnant.
Review your vaccination history before you start trying, and follow current national guidance for the vaccines that apply to you.
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PREP-008: Which Health Conditions Should Be Controlled Before Pregnancy?
PREP-009: Are My Medicines Safe If I Am Trying to Get Pregnant?
PREP-011: How Do Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs Affect My Chances of Pregnancy?