Doctor On Call: Is the Tdap Vaccine Necessary During Pregnancy?

Is the Tdap vaccination necessary during pregnancy? That is the question posed in this segment of TriHealth’s Doctor on Call. Tdap stands for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis – three bacteria that can cause serious illness. Protection from these illnesses is only an obvious benefit to the health of an expecting mother, but it can also protect the baby early in life. In fact, expecting mothers who receive the vaccine during pregnancy are helping to protect their babies from newborn pertussis. Pertussis is the severe respiratory disease more commonly known as whooping cough.

Sashana Gordon MD, an OB-GYN with TriHealth Women’s Services – Rookwood explains how the vaccination helps a mother protect her baby during pregnancy and after birth. She also addresses fears over any dangers associated with the vaccine, when a mother should receive the vaccine and whether or not you should still receive it during pregnancy if you have been recently vaccinated before the pregnancy.

Doctor on Call is a segment in partnership with WCPO-TV featuring TriHealth physicians answering medical questions submitted by viewers to WCPO. You can submit a question here.