The importance of Tdap and influenza immunizations during pregnancy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all pregnant women receive: • an influenza shot at any stage during their pregnancy and • a pertussis (Tdap) shot between 27 and 36 weeks gestation (during each pregnancy, even if they received Tdap before becoming pregnant) Studies show that transplacentally transferred maternal antibodies provides infants some protection against pertussis and influenza until they are old enough to be immunized against these diseases (6 weeks minimum age for DTaP, 6 months for influenza vaccine).