Immunization during pregnancy helps protect you and your baby from potentially serious infections. Even after birth, when your baby is too young to receive a vaccination, it provides protection!

It is perfectly safe to get vaccinated during pregnancy, and more vaccines can be administered during the prenatal period with one exception; the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) should be administered after your baby is born.

For more information from the Public Health Agency of Canada in regards to vaccination during pregnancy, please view this handout.

The Toronto Birth Centre holds an immunization clinic every Thursday and Friday. They can administer the following vaccines:

• prenatal TDAP

• influenza

• COVID-19

• RSV

• MMR (postpartum)

Please note that the immunization clinic requires a referral from your midwife. Please speak to your midwife if you are interested in getting vaccinated at the TBC.

The clinic operates Fridays and Thursdays only, no walk-in’s allowed. It is by appointment only. Once your referral is accepted, the TBC will give you a date and time for your vaccinations. SGMT reception staff will notify you directly of your appointment.

If you are indigenous, there are a variety of organizations within the city that can provide culturally safe access to vaccinations such as the Call Auntie Clinic, and Auduzhe Mino Nesewinong (Place of Healthy Breathing). Please visit their websites to learn more about how to get vaccinated with them.

TDAP stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). During each pregnancy, you should get the TDAP vaccine, even if you've received it before. You should get it when you're between 27 and 32 weeks pregnant.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is particularly dangerous for infants under 2 months of age because they're too young to be vaccinated. When you get the TDAP vaccine in pregnancy, you produce antibodies that protect your newborn during the first months of life.

It is safe for you are your baby to receive this vaccine. TDAP vaccination in pregnancy is estimated to protect 90% of infants less than 3 months of age against pertussis.

During flu season, anyone who's pregnant or planning to become pregnant should get the flu shot. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness during pregnancy because your body goes through many changes. These changes can affect the immune system, heart and lungs. This makes it harder for your body to fight off infections, increasing the risk of complications.

You can get the flu vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy, no matter which trimester you're in. You can get the flu vaccine at the same time as, or anytime before or after another vaccine.

Receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy helps to protect you as well as your baby who is also at increased risk for serious flu complications. This is important because babies younger than 6 months can't get vaccinated against the flu. Your flu shot helps protect your baby from the flu for several months after they’re born.

Getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster dose, during any stage of pregnancy is safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps protect against serious outcomes for the person who is pregnant and their baby.

Vaccinated people can also pass antibodies to their baby through the placenta and through breastmilk.

People who are pregnant are at higher risk of experiencing severe outcomes from COVID-19. Getting COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications therefore it is highly recommended to get the vaccine to help prevent infection and hospitalization.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy, please visit the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness that affects the airway and lungs, especially in babies and young children.

Abrysvo, also called RSVpreF, is a vaccine that pregnant persons can receive to protect their baby from contracting RSV. If the baby's due date falls during or close to the beginning of the RSV season, then the vaccine is administered between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. The vaccine aids the immune system of the expectant mother in producing antibodies that can be transferred to the baby in utero that will help keep them from contracting RSV once they are born.

For more information on RSV, its vaccine and Beyfortus (A preventive antibody medication that is given to a child), please see this handout.

The most ideal time to receive the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is before pregnancy. Rubella infection during pregnancy frequently gives rise to congenital rubella syndrome which can result in miscarriage, stillbirth or fetal malformations. Measles during pregnancy results in a higher risk of premature labour, spontaneous abortion and low birth weight infants.

Pregnant people without documented evidence of previous rubella vaccination (e.g., immunization record) should be tested for rubella
antibodies. Those who are not immune should receive the MMR vaccine after delivery and prior to hospital discharge, or shortly after giving birth at the TBC’s immunization clinic.

This vaccine is typically not given during pregnancy except in special circumstances where the benefits may out-way the risks (such as during an out-break of Rubella).