Purpose
- Vaccines can help protect your pregnant patients and their babies against diseases including flu, COVID-19, RSV, and pertussis. However, many patients may not be aware of these recommendations. You are their most trusted source of health information during their pregnancies. Here are some tips and strategies to help you talk to them about vaccination and provide a strong recommendation.
Present Vaccinations as a Standard of Care
Provide each of your patients with information and resources about maternal vaccines when you meet at their first prenatal visit and mention the timeframe for each vaccine.
Ensure your staff deliver consistent messages about the importance of maternal vaccinations (including nurses, front office staff, managers, etc.).
Normalize vaccination as a part of your patient’s care.
Example
Provide a Strong Recommendation
State clearly that you would like your patient to get vaccinated. Research indicates that some pregnant people did not feel their ob-gyns or midwives strongly recommended vaccines.
Example
Starting the conversation
SHARE Additional Information (as needed)
For many patients, a strong clear recommendation will be sufficient to accept recommended vaccines. Others may need more information. You can use the SHARE method to make strong vaccine recommendations and provide important information to help pregnant patients make informed decisions about vaccinations.
SHARE tailored reasons why the recommended vaccine is right for the patient because she is pregnant, which may lead to certain risk factors.
Example
HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with vaccines (personal or in your practice) to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in vaccination
Example
ADDRESS patient questions and any concerns about the vaccines, including side effects, safety, and vaccine effectiveness in plain and understandable language.
Example
REMIND your patient that vaccine can protect her, her developing baby, and other loved ones from many common and serious diseases.
Example
EXPLAIN the potential cost of getting the disease, including serious health effects, time lost (such as missing working or family obligations), and financial costs.
Example
Resources to share
Talking to Pregnant Women About Vaccines
Use this printable handout to train staff on how to address patient questions about vaccines recommended during pregnancy.
From Me to You: Pregnancy is a precaution; may be used if benefit outweighs risk.
CDC created this handout in an effort to invite Black pregnant people, their loved ones, and their healthcare providers into a conversation about how recommended vaccinations during pregnancy help pregnant people share protection with their babies.
Making A Strong Vaccine Referral to Pregnant Women
This 8.5″ x 11″ fact sheet offers tips for how to make a strong referral to pregnant patients to help ensure that they get recommended vaccines to prevent pertussis and influenza. It is designed for healthcare professionals who are not able to stock and administer Tdap or influenza vaccines in their office.
Prenatal Care and Routinely Recommended Vaccinations
This one-page chart lists key vaccination recommendations for before, during, and after pregnancy. It is a quick reference table summarizing important contraindications and recommendations related to maternal vaccination. See a full list of ACIP’s guidelines for vaccinating pregnant women.
Letter to Providers: Tdap and Influenza Vaccination of Pregnant Women