Getting the TDaP vaccine when you are between 27 and 36 weeks pregnant is safe and protects both you and your baby from getting whooping cough or pertussis.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and College of Midwives of BC (BCCNM) all agree on this.
When you get the TDaP vaccine during pregnancy, it helps protect your baby from whooping cough or Pertussis, through passive immunity, immunity that is passed from mother to child. This matters because if a baby gets Pertussis as a newborn, it can be fatal, and babies can not be protected with their own vaccination until they are two months old. Children should get five doses of TDaP ( Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) at 2,4,6 and 15-18 months of age, followed by another at 4 to 6 years old.
Following the recent release of a new guideline from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC), the TDaP vaccine is now recommended for every pregnant person, regardless of their vaccination history. The vaccine should ideally be given between 27-32 weeks gestation, but any time is acceptable. The vaccine is not covered by MSP, unfortunately. With a prescription, you may be able to have it covered by extended health insurance. You can get the vaccine at a pharmacy.
If you would like to get the TDaP vaccine, please ask your midwife for a prescription.