Which vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women during each pregnancy?

The Tdap vaccine, which stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine, is recommended for all pregnant women during each pregnancy, specifically between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. This vaccination helps to protect both the mother and the newborn from pertussis (whooping cough), which can be particularly severe in infants. By receiving the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy, antibodies are transferred to the fetus, providing the newborn with some immunity against whooping cough before they can start their own vaccinations.

This practice is encouraged to create a protective environment for the infant in their early months of life, a time when they are most vulnerable and not yet able to receive their own vaccinations against these diseases. The recommendation for Tdap is part of broader public health efforts to reduce the incidence of pertussis in infants and to promote maternal immunization as a key public health strategy.