Key Takeaways
- Four vaccines are routinely recommended during pregnancy: flu (any trimester), Tdap (27-36 weeks), COVID-19 (any trimester) and RSV (32-36 weeks) -- all are inactivated, non-live vaccines
- The Tdap vaccine, given ideally as early as possible in the 27-36 week window, reduces whooping cough in babies under 2 months by close to 80%
- Live vaccines -- MMR, varicella (chickenpox), and the live nasal-spray flu vaccine -- are contraindicated during pregnancy and should be given before conception or postponed until after delivery
- Antibodies made after vaccination cross the placenta in the third trimester, giving your newborn passive protection during the weeks before their own vaccine schedule begins
- Common side effects (arm soreness, mild fatigue, low-grade fever) are similar to those in non-pregnant adults and typically resolve within 24-48 hours
- UAE guidance from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and MOHAP aligns with WHO and CDC recommendations, and flu and Tdap vaccination are routinely offered as part of antenatal care in Dubai
- Vaccination during pregnancy at DCDC starts from AED 150, with direct billing available through 20+ UAE insurers
- Skipping recommended vaccines does not protect your baby -- it leaves both of you exposed to diseases that are more dangerous during pregnancy and in the newborn period
Few questions unsettle expectant mothers more than, "Is it actually safe to get vaccinated while I am pregnant?" The evidence, reviewed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), gives a clear answer: yes, for the vaccines specifically recommended in pregnancy. Flu, Tdap, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are not only safe for you, they are one of the most effective tools available to protect a baby who is too young to be vaccinated themselves. This guide walks through exactly which vaccines are recommended, which to avoid, when to get each one, and what a visit for vaccination services at DCDC looks like alongside your ongoing pregnancy care at DCDC.
This guide focuses specifically on the vaccination decisions you will face during pregnancy itself -- which shots to get, which to postpone, and when. It covers the four vaccines recommended by CDC and ACOG for every pregnancy, the vaccines that should be avoided, UAE-specific guidance from DHA and MOHAP, exact timing windows by trimester, what a vaccination visit at DCDC includes, and the safety data behind each recommendation.
Why Vaccination During Pregnancy Matters
Pregnancy naturally changes how your immune system responds to infection. This is not a weakness -- it is one reason why influenza, COVID-19 and pertussis (whooping cough) can hit harder during pregnancy than they would outside it. At the same time, a newborn's immune system is immature and cannot begin certain vaccines until 2 months of age at the earliest, leaving a genuinely dangerous window of vulnerability in the first weeks of life. Maternal vaccination bridges that gap: the antibodies your body produces after a shot cross the placenta and give your baby passive protection from birth until their own vaccination schedule catches up.
- Pregnant women face a higher risk of severe flu complications -- including hospitalisation and pneumonia -- than non-pregnant women of the same age
- Whooping cough (pertussis) is most dangerous, and most often fatal, in babies younger than 3 months, before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves
- COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of severe illness, ICU admission and preterm birth compared with non-pregnant adults of similar age
- Antibodies from maternal vaccination cross the placenta most efficiently in the third trimester, timing protection to arrive just before delivery
Vaccines Recommended During Pregnancy: The Complete List
ACOG and the CDC recommend four vaccines routinely in every pregnancy, regardless of a woman's vaccination history before conceiving. All four are inactivated (non-live) vaccines, meaning they contain no live virus or bacteria capable of causing infection.
- Influenza (flu) vaccine -- the inactivated injectable flu shot, recommended in any trimester during flu season
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) -- given in every pregnancy, ideally as early as possible between 27 and 36 weeks
- COVID-19 vaccine -- an updated formulation recommended in any trimester to stay up to date
- RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) -- given between weeks 32 and 36 during RSV season, to protect the newborn from severe RSV in the first 6 months of life
Flu (Influenza) Vaccine During Pregnancy
The inactivated flu shot is recommended for every pregnant woman who will be pregnant during flu season, in any trimester. Pregnancy increases the risk of flu-related hospitalisation, and vaccination lowers that risk substantially. Because a baby cannot receive their own flu vaccine until 6 months of age, the antibodies passed on from a mother vaccinated during pregnancy provide meaningful protection during that entire window.
Only the injectable, inactivated flu vaccine is recommended in pregnancy. The live attenuated nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes known by its brand name) is a live vaccine and should not be used during pregnancy.
For a full breakdown of which vaccines adults need and when, beyond pregnancy, see our adult vaccination schedule guide. It covers boosters, travel vaccines and catch-up schedules that may be relevant once your pregnancy vaccinations are complete.
Tdap Vaccine: Protecting Your Baby from Whooping Cough
The Tdap vaccine is the single most time-sensitive vaccine of pregnancy. It should be given as early as possible within the 27-36 week window, because this timing maximises the transfer of protective antibodies across the placenta before delivery. Getting Tdap during the third trimester has been shown to prevent roughly 78% of pertussis cases in babies younger than 2 months and reduces the risk of whooping cough in that age group by close to 80%.
- Ideal timing: as early as possible between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation
- Needed in every single pregnancy -- protective antibody levels do not reliably carry over from a previous pregnancy
- Safe to give alongside the flu, COVID-19 or RSV vaccine at the same visit
- If missed before delivery, Tdap can still be given postpartum, but the newborn will not receive the same degree of passive antibody protection
COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy: Latest Guidelines
ACOG recommends that everyone who is pregnant stay up to date with the current COVID-19 vaccine, and states it is safe to receive at any point in pregnancy. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy carries a higher risk of severe illness and preterm birth than infection in a non-pregnant adult of similar age, and vaccination reduces that risk. As with flu and Tdap, antibodies generated after COVID-19 vaccination cross the placenta and offer the newborn some protection during the first months of life, when infants cannot yet be vaccinated.
RSV Vaccine During Pregnancy: A Newer Addition
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of hospitalisation in infants under 6 months. The RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) is now recommended for pregnant women between weeks 32 and 36 of gestation, timed to the local RSV season, to transfer protective antibodies to the baby before birth. If the RSV vaccine is not given during pregnancy, the newborn can instead receive an RSV monoclonal antibody injection shortly after delivery to achieve similar protection -- your obstetrician can advise which pathway suits your situation.
Mild soreness, fatigue or a low-grade fever after any of these vaccines is a normal, expected immune response and usually resolves within 24-48 hours. Our guide to managing vaccine side effects explains what is normal and which symptoms warrant a call to your doctor.
Vaccines to Avoid During Pregnancy
Live attenuated vaccines contain a weakened but still-living version of a virus or bacterium. Because of a theoretical risk that the organism could affect fetal development, live vaccines are generally avoided during pregnancy -- even though large safety reviews have not found evidence of harm from inadvertent exposure. The safer path is to complete these vaccines before conceiving or to postpone them until after delivery.
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) -- a live vaccine; complete it at least 4 weeks before trying to conceive, or after delivery if not already immune
- Varicella (chickenpox) -- a live, 2-dose vaccine; recommended before pregnancy for women who are not already immune
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (nasal spray) -- avoid; use the injectable inactivated flu shot instead
- MMRV, oral typhoid, and yellow fever -- generally avoided in pregnancy unless travel to a high-risk area makes the infection risk outweigh the theoretical vaccine risk; always discuss with your obstetrician first
- HPV vaccine -- not recommended for use during pregnancy; the remaining doses of the series can simply be completed after delivery
UAE-Specific Pregnancy Vaccination Requirements
In the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) oversee immunization standards and align their guidance with WHO and international best practice. The DHA's Clinical Guidelines for Best Practice in Immunization set the standard followed by MOHAP-licensed clinics across Dubai, and flu and Tdap vaccination are routinely offered as part of standard antenatal care. There is no separate UAE-specific vaccine schedule for pregnancy that differs meaningfully from CDC and ACOG recommendations -- the guidance you receive from an OB-GYN in Dubai should match what is described in this guide.
DCDC is a MOHAP-licensed facility in Dubai Healthcare City with cold-chain certified vaccine storage covering 17 vaccines, and offers direct billing with 20+ UAE insurers so pregnancy vaccinations can typically be processed against your existing maternity or outpatient cover.
Vaccination Timeline: When to Get Each Vaccine
| Stage | Vaccine | Why This Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Before conception (if not immune) | MMR, Varicella | Live vaccines must be completed at least 4 weeks before conception since they cannot be given once pregnant |
| First trimester (weeks 1-12) | Flu vaccine (if in season), COVID-19 vaccine | Both are safe in any trimester; getting them early protects you through the rest of the pregnancy |
| Second trimester (weeks 13-27) | Flu vaccine (if not yet given and in season), COVID-19 vaccine | Continue routine care; no additional pregnancy-specific vaccine is due yet |
| 27-36 weeks | Tdap | Timed to maximise antibody transfer across the placenta before delivery, protecting the baby from whooping cough |
| 32-36 weeks, during RSV season | RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) | Transfers RSV antibodies to the baby in time to cover the highest-risk first months after birth |
| After delivery | MMR, Varicella (if still not immune), remaining HPV doses | Live vaccines and any postponed doses can be safely given once you are no longer pregnant, including while breastfeeding |
Exact timing should always be confirmed with your obstetrician, who will adjust the schedule around your individual pregnancy and local flu or RSV season.
Two related decisions often come up around the same time as vaccination: your trimester-by-trimester scan schedule, and, for many women, gestational diabetes screening, which is usually booked around the same second-trimester visits. If your main question is simply the price of the flu shot itself, our flu vaccine cost guide breaks it down further.
Ready to Plan Your Pregnancy Vaccinations?
Our OB-GYN team at DCDC Dubai Healthcare City can review your vaccination history, confirm what is due at your current stage of pregnancy, and administer flu, Tdap, COVID-19 or RSV vaccines from cold-chain certified stock on the same visit.
Book a Pregnancy Vaccination Consultation
Pregnancy Vaccination Costs in Dubai
Vaccination during pregnancy at DCDC starts from AED 150, with direct billing available through 20+ UAE insurers. Prices vary by vaccine and by clinic; the table below compares typical DCDC pricing with the wider Dubai market.
| Vaccine | DCDC Price | Typical Market Price in Dubai |
|---|---|---|
| Flu (Influenza) vaccine | from AED 150 | AED 200-350 |
| Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis) | from AED 180 | AED 250-400 |
| COVID-19 vaccine | from AED 150 | AED 200-350 |
| RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) | from AED 450 | AED 500-700 |
| Vaccination consultation with OB-GYN | from AED 250 | AED 300-500 |
Prices are indicative and depend on the specific vaccine brand, insurance coverage and consultation requirements. Confirm current pricing and insurance eligibility when booking.
What to Expect at DCDC: Your Pregnancy Vaccination Visit
Pregnancy vaccinations at DCDC are coordinated with your ongoing antenatal care rather than treated as a separate errand. Here is what a typical visit looks like.
- Check-in: Arrive at DCDC in Dubai Healthcare City and check in at reception; your maternity file and insurance details are pulled up for direct billing where applicable
- Consultation with your OB-GYN: Dr. Parisa Dini or another obstetrician reviews your gestational age, vaccination history and any risk factors before confirming which vaccine is due
- Vaccine administration: The vaccine is drawn from DCDC's cold-chain certified storage, which covers 17 vaccines, and administered by a qualified clinician
- 15-minute observation: You remain at the clinic for a short observation period to monitor for any immediate reaction, standard practice for any vaccination
- Vaccination record: You receive a signed vaccination record noting the vaccine, batch number and date, useful for your maternity file, travel, or your baby's future paediatric records
“Many pregnant patients worry about vaccine safety, but the evidence overwhelmingly shows that recommended vaccines like flu and Tdap protect both mother and baby. I always discuss the benefits and timing with each patient individually,” says Dr. Parisa Dini.
Obstetrician & Gynecologist
Dr. Parisa Dini is an Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Doctors Clinic Diagnostic Center (DCDC) in Dubai Healthcare City, specializing in PCOS, menopause management, and preventive women's health.
Safety and Side Effects of Vaccines During Pregnancy
All four vaccines routinely recommended in pregnancy -- flu, Tdap, COVID-19 and RSV -- are inactivated or protein-based vaccines that contain no live virus or bacteria, so they cannot cause the disease they protect against. Large-scale monitoring in pregnant women across multiple countries has not found an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects or preterm birth linked to these vaccines. Side effects are generally the same as in non-pregnant adults.
- Common, mild reactions: soreness or redness at the injection site, mild fatigue, headache, or a low-grade fever for 24-48 hours
- Less common: muscle aches, chills, or a brief feeling of being unwell, usually resolving within 1-2 days
- Managing side effects: paracetamol (acetaminophen), rest and fluids are generally considered safe for managing post-vaccination discomfort in pregnancy -- confirm with your doctor
- When to seek care: a fever above 38.9°C, severe swelling, difficulty breathing, or reduced fetal movement after vaccination should prompt a call to your obstetrician or a visit to the clinic
How Maternal Vaccines Protect Your Newborn
The protection newborns receive from maternal vaccination is called passive immunity. When you are vaccinated during pregnancy, your immune system produces antibodies specific to that disease. In the third trimester, an active transport mechanism in the placenta moves these antibodies from your bloodstream into the baby's, so your baby is born with a temporary supply of the same protection. This is particularly important for pertussis and RSV, where the most severe disease and highest risk of death occur in the first weeks and months of life -- long before a baby's own vaccine schedule can offer equivalent protection.
Discuss Your Pregnancy Vaccination Plan with an OB-GYN
Whether you are in your first trimester or approaching the Tdap window, our obstetrics and vaccination teams at DCDC Dubai Healthcare City work together so your antenatal visits and immunizations stay on schedule, backed by a 4.8/5 Google rating and 98% patient satisfaction.
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Final Thoughts
Vaccination during pregnancy is one of the few interventions that protects two people at once: it lowers your own risk of severe illness and gives your baby a head start on immunity during the weeks before their own vaccine schedule can begin. Flu, Tdap, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines all have a well-established safety record in pregnancy, while a small, specific group of live vaccines is simply postponed until before conception or after delivery.
The most important step is timing: Tdap is most effective as early as possible in the 27-36 week window, and RSV vaccination is timed to weeks 32-36 during the relevant season. Our obstetrics team at DCDC Dubai Healthcare City can review your individual history and align your vaccinations with your ongoing pregnancy care, so nothing falls through the cracks.
Sources & References
This article was reviewed by our medical team and references the following sources:
- CDC - Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women
- ACOG - Maternal Immunization Schedule
- ACOG - The Tdap Vaccine and Pregnancy (FAQ)
- WHO - Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals
- NHS - Whooping Cough Vaccination in Pregnancy
- Dubai Health Authority - Clinical Guidelines for Best Practice in Immunization
- PMC - Safety of Administering Live Vaccines During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Medical content on this site is reviewed by DHA-licensed physicians. See our editorial policy for more information.
Written by
Dr. Parisa Dini
Obstetrician & Gynecologist
MD, OB-GYN
Dr. Parisa Dini is an Obstetrician & Gynecologist at Doctors Clinic Diagnostic Center (DCDC) in Dubai Healthcare City, specializing in PCOS, menopause management, and preventive women's health.
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