The Truth About the TDAP Vaccine During Pregnancy

Every parent wants to do everything possible to protect their baby. Expectant mothers make hundreds of decisions to support a healthy pregnancy, from prenatal vitamins to planning the nursery. But there’s one simple and powerful tool that is sometimes overlooked: getting the TDAP vaccine during each pregnancy.

More and more pregnant patients are declining the TDAP vaccine, and often, the reason is rooted in a common misconception. Many pregnant mothers believe that because they had the vaccine before, they don’t need it again.

Let’s clear up the confusion: this vaccine is not for the mother’s protection, it’s primarily for the baby.

What Is the TDAP Vaccine?

TDAP protects against three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and most notably, pertussis (whooping cough). While all three are dangerous, whooping cough poses a life-threatening risk to newborns, especially in the first few months of life before they are old enough to be vaccinated.

That’s why healthcare providers recommend that pregnant patients get the TDAP vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks. This timing allows the mother’s body to build protective antibodies and pass them to the baby through the placenta.

“But I Just Had It…”

One of the most common reasons pregnant patients decline the TDAP is because they’ve already had the vaccine within the past 10 years, or during a previous pregnancy.

This logic makes sense for general adult care, since the TDAP booster is usually given every 10 years. But during pregnancy, the goal is not to protect the mother’s long-term immunity. The goal is to pass new antibodies to each baby, every time.

Why It’s Urgent

Pertussis can cause severe breathing problems, violent coughing fits, and even death in infants. Babies under 6 months are especially vulnerable, and tragically, 4 out of 5 babies who contract pertussis catch it from someone at home, such as a parent, grandparent, or sibling who may not even realize they’re sick.

Nearly half of all infants with whooping cough are hospitalized, and many spend time in the NICU. Watching a newborn struggle to breathe, eat, or sleep due to a preventable illness is a trauma no family should have to endure.

What You Can Do   

• Get vaccinated between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.   
• Encourage loved ones who will be around the baby to receive a TDAP booster as well.   
• Make a plan to talk to your prenatal care provider at your next visit about the TDAP vaccine. They’re here to support you and your baby.