TDAP Vaccine and Pregnancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), [3] it is best to get the TDAP vaccination anytime between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
The protection the vaccine provides makes it less likely for whooping cough to pass from a pregnant woman to her unborn child. Whooping cough can cause serious, potentially fatal problems in infants.
Who Needs the TDAP Vaccination?
Ever needs a TDAP vaccine. The CDC advises getting a dose of TDAP if you are 18 years or older in place of your subsequent Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster if:
- You don’t recall if you’ve ever received the TDAP vaccine
- If you’ve never had it.
Typically, a single injection in the upper arm is used to administer a Td booster every ten years.
A TDAP booster is advised before the 10-year window if:
- You’re pregnant
- You plan to have close contact with a child less than 12 months (receive the shot at least two weeks before holding the child).