Yes. CDC recommends a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy, and flu shots have been given to millions of pregnant women over more than 50 years. The antibodies you make pass to your baby and can protect them for several months after birth, when they are too young for their own flu vaccine. Get the shot, not the nasal spray, which is a live vaccine and should not be used in pregnancy.
Is the flu shot safe in the first trimester?
Yes. CDC says influenza vaccine can be given during any trimester, including the first. The NHS says studies have shown it is safe to have a flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.
A common worry is miscarriage. A CDC Vaccine Safety Datalink study covering 3 flu seasons (2012-13 through 2014-15) found no added risk of miscarriage after flu vaccination in pregnancy. An earlier, smaller study had found a link with vaccination early in pregnancy, but CDC says its small size may have made the results imprecise, and no other study has found that link.
The NHS says injected flu vaccines do not contain live flu virus, so they cannot give you the flu.
Why does a flu shot matter more when you're pregnant?
CDC says flu is more likely to lead to a hospital stay when you are pregnant.
Flu can also affect the baby. Fever, a common flu symptom, has been linked in some studies to neural tube defects and other problems for the developing baby.
The shot helps. CDC cites a 2018 study that found flu vaccination in pregnancy cut the risk of being hospitalized with flu by an average of 40%.
- Protects you: lowers your chance of ending up in the hospital with flu during pregnancy.
- Protects your baby: antibodies cross to the baby and can protect them for several months after birth.
- Keeps helping after birth: if you breastfeed, antibodies are also shared through breast milk.
Which flu vaccine should you get, and which should you skip?
Get a flu shot. CDC says pregnant people should get a flu shot, not the nasal spray.
Skip the nasal spray (FluMist). It is a live, weakened vaccine, and CDC says it should not be used during pregnancy. If a pharmacy offers you the spray, tell them you are pregnant and ask for the shot.
Egg allergy is not a reason to skip it. CDC says pregnant women with egg allergies of any severity may get any flu shot, egg-based or not.
CDC says the main reason not to get a particular flu vaccine is a severe, life-threatening allergy to one of its ingredients. If that may be you, talk with your doctor before you get one.
When in pregnancy should you get it?
CDC recommends getting a flu vaccine by the end of October, before flu activity starts to rise. September and October are generally good months.
If you are in your third trimester in July or August, CDC says getting vaccinated then can also be considered, so your baby is born with protection.
If October has passed and you have not had your shot yet, ask your prenatal care team or pharmacist about getting it now.
You do not need a doctor's note. CDC says no special permission or written consent from your doctor is needed to get a flu shot at a pharmacy, worksite clinic or other location.
Can you get it at the same time as Tdap, RSV or COVID vaccines?
Often, yes. CDC says the maternal RSV vaccine can be given at the same visit as Tdap, COVID-19 or flu vaccines. Ask your prenatal care team which shots you can combine at your next visit.
Each pregnancy vaccine has its own timing, so you may not get them all at once:
- Flu shot: any trimester, ideally by the end of October.
- Tdap (whooping cough): during each pregnancy, between weeks 27 and 36, preferably early in that window.
- RSV: 1 dose of Pfizer's Abrysvo during weeks 32 through 36, from September through January in most of the US. Arexvy and mResvia are not approved for use in pregnancy. The other option is RSV immunization for your baby after birth.
- COVID-19: CDC's current pregnancy page says a COVID vaccine can protect you and your baby from severe illness. Ask your prenatal care team what they advise this season.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911If you are pregnant and get flu symptoms like fever, cough, body aches or sore throat, call your health care provider right away. CDC recommends prompt flu antiviral treatment in pregnancy for confirmed or suspected flu.
Get medical care right away, the same day, for fever or cough that gets better and then comes back or gets worse, severe muscle pain, severe weakness or unsteadiness, not urinating, or a long-term health problem that is getting worse.
Call 911 for trouble breathing or shortness of breath, ongoing chest or belly pain or pressure, ongoing dizziness, confusion, being hard to wake, a seizure, or signs of a severe allergic reaction after a shot such as swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›What side effects are normal after a flu shot in pregnancy?
Side effects are the same as for anyone else. CDC says they usually start soon after the shot and generally last 1 to 2 days.
Common ones are a sore arm, headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea and tiredness. If you get a fever, ask your prenatal care team what is safe to take for it.
Common questions
Can I get a flu shot while pregnant?
Yes. CDC recommends a flu shot during any trimester of pregnancy, and the NHS says it is safe at any stage. It protects you from severe flu and can protect your baby for several months after birth. Get the shot, not the nasal spray.
Can I get the flu shot in my first trimester?
Yes. CDC says flu vaccine can be given during any trimester. A CDC safety study over 3 flu seasons found no added risk of miscarriage after flu vaccination in pregnancy.
Why can't pregnant people get FluMist?
FluMist, the nasal spray, contains a live, weakened flu virus. CDC says live vaccines like it should not be used during pregnancy. The flu shot has no live virus and is the recommended option.
Can I get my flu shot at the same visit as my other pregnancy vaccines?
Often, yes. CDC says the RSV vaccine can be given at the same visit as Tdap, COVID-19 and flu vaccines. Tdap is timed for weeks 27 to 36 and RSV for weeks 32 to 36, while the flu shot can be given in any trimester. Ask your prenatal team which ones you can combine.
Does my flu shot protect my newborn?
Yes, for a while. Antibodies you make during pregnancy pass to your baby and can protect them from flu for several months after birth. That covers the early months when your baby is too young to get their own flu vaccine.
Do I need my OB's permission to get a flu shot at a pharmacy?
No. CDC says you do not need special permission or written consent from your doctor to get a flu shot at a pharmacy or other location. Tell the pharmacist you are pregnant so they give you a shot, not the nasal spray, and let your prenatal team know you had it.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.