Every Pregnant Mother Needs These 2 Vaccines [infographic]
A healthy child starts with a healthy pregnancy. To prevent serious illness to your unborn baby, every pregnant mother is urged to get vaccinated to pass protection to their child.
Whooping Cough
Pertussis, or better known as Whooping Cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that is easily preventable by vaccine. Babies under 1-year-old are the highest at risk, with nearly half of those under 6 months old requiring hospitalization. The CDC Recommends pregnant women receive the whooping cough vaccine in their third trimester to protect your child.
The Flu
Flu season lasts from October to May, with the season peaking from December to February. However, flu can still be detected year-round in the United States. Getting the flu while pregnant can pass the illness to your baby and cause serious health problems for your unborn child including premature birth, low birth-weight and in extreme cases stillbirth or death within the first week of life. Getting vaccinated with the flu shot during pregnancy reduces the risk of illness by 40-60%.
For more information on the effects of Whooping Cough and the Flu on pregnancy and newborns, please consult the infographic below.