Are There Vaccine-Caused Birth Defects?

During pregnancy, certain vaccines are recommended to protect you and your baby from certain diseases like seasonal flu, whooping cough, and COVID-19. Usually inactive versions are injected into your body during pregnancy in the form of a vaccine that does not contain any live version of the virus it is protecting against. Some other vaccines such as the tetanus vaccine are also safe for the pregnancy duration. However, all vaccines are not safe for use in pregnancy. For example, the yellow fever vaccine and MMR can develop a risk for your pregnancy. Therefore, you should talk to your doctor before taking such vaccines during pregnancy.

It’s natural to be concerned about your and your baby’s health during pregnancy. Well, a balanced diet, light regular exercises, and good quality sleep are all crucial to the health of both you and your baby. However, an important question is, what about vaccines? Are vaccines safe for pregnant women? Are there any risks associated with vaccination during pregnancy?

You may have read slime rumors or false information about vaccines and their associated birth irregularities. In this article, you will find the true and accurate information about vaccines during pregnancy, and the watts to protect you and your baby from potentially serious risks linked with vaccines during pregnancy.

Is there any Link Between Vaccines during Pregnancy and Birth Irregularities?

No science-backed evidence is found about risks associated with birth irregularities caused due to vaccines during pregnancy. However, much evidence has been found that proves vaccines are beneficial for reducing developmental issues for the baby. In addition, these vaccines protect both you and your baby from serious complications associated with certain infections. According to studies, very few reports are collected about birth defects due to vaccines during pregnancy. Researchers also claimed that no clue indicates any health condition caused by the vaccine during pregnancy.

This means most vaccines are safe during pregnancy but a few vaccines can cause issues if taken during pregnancy. Therefore, these vaccines should be taken before you are pregnant or after the delivery of your baby. 

Research indicates that vaccines that are composed of live viruses are usually not recommended during pregnancy because the risk is associated with these vaccines that they can cause infection in an unborn baby. However, no research supports that these vaccines cause any birth defects. 

The Institute of Health Sciences has claimed that it is safe to avoid some vaccines during pregnancy, including:

• Tuberculosis.
• HPV.
• Chickenpox (varicella).
• MMR.

However, the flu mist vaccine is safe and recommended during pregnancy. This vaccine is given via nasal spray and is not considered harmful when you’re pregnant. Whenever you plan to travel, take traveling vaccines before getting pregnant because vaccines recommended often before traveling are not considered safe during pregnancy. This means, talking to your healthcare provider before taking the following vaccines during pregnancy:

• Japanese Encephalitis.
• Yellow Fever 
• Typhoid Fever.

It is good to take advice from your midwife or specialist doctor before using these vaccines. If you discover that you’re pregnant after receiving a dose of such vaccines. Contact your doctor immediately so that they may do something to lessen the risk of a health issue for you and your baby. But make sure that the next dose of the vaccine you will take after delivery.

Side Effects of Vaccines during Pregnancy

Research does not support that vaccines during pregnancy are linked with birth irregularities. However, mild side effects are reported every year. The common side effects after vaccination during pregnancy:

• Swelling, pain, and redness at the injection site.
• Fatigue.
• Muscle aches.
• Fever.

These side effects are temporary and can be recovered on their own. However, in case of the severity of symptoms of these side effects, it’s best to consider medical assistance for the next steps.

Why is Vaccination Important during or Before Pregnancy?

Vaccines before or during pregnancy are important to protect you and your baby from any health issues. Vaccination helps reduce the risk of certain infections that may lead to serious health issues along with potential pregnancy complications. Some vaccines create beneficial antibodies in your baby’s body during the first few months of their life. These antibodies may help reduce the risk of certain illnesses in the future. 

In addition, even if you are not vaccinated before and after your pregnancy, your baby still needs their childhood vaccination according to the set schedule. For example, the flu virus, if contracted in a newborn, can lead to pneumonia. According to a survey, half of newborns affected by whooping cough are often brought to hospitals due to serious illnesses. You can protect your baby from three or two fatal viruses by getting vaccines for these illnesses before or during pregnancy. 

You should make sure that you are always up-to-date about your vaccine schedule. However, you will not ignore the fact that still there are certain vaccines that are necessary for you during certain points of pregnancy, like whooping cough and flu vaccines. 

COVID-19 Vaccine and Birth Defects

Medical analytic reports claimed that there is no link between COVID-19 and birth defects. Pregnancy is a risk factor for developing severe disease from COVID-19. If you get the COVID-19 vaccine before pregnancy, you may protect yourself from COVID and help prevent the severity of symptoms when you do develop the disease.

But, if you do not get the COVID-19 vaccine before or during your pregnancy, and feel any symptoms of disease, immediately talk to your doctor to be acknowledged about the next steps based on your vaccination schedule. 

Recommended Vaccines before or during Pregnancy

The Department of Health Sciences recommends that it is essential to receive your annual flu and whooping cough vaccines during each pregnancy. Tdap is the popular whooping cough vaccine, which is effective for pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus. Both whooping cough and flu vaccines help protect you from illness and improve your immunity to extend the first few months of your baby’s life when they are most vulnerable to such infectious diseases.

These benefits of such vaccines reject the claims for birth defects and developmental problems associated with whooping cough and flu vaccines. Don’t forget to discuss complete information with your doctor before receiving any vaccine during pregnancy.

However, the fertility and health departments have recommended certain vaccines during pregnancy, including:

Pertussis Vaccine

The highly contagious infection in infants is whooping cough. It can be the most severe infection at any stage of pregnancy and can be deadly in infants. The whooping cough vaccine usually starts at two months in children. Receiving this vaccine during pregnancy can help protect you against certain fatal infections. 

In a current analysis, the health departments recommended that all pregnant females get their Tdap vaccine between week 25 to week 35 of their pregnancy. Most doctors prefer to vaccinate pregnant women at the early stages of pregnancy so that they may ensure the possible protection for their babies.

In addition, most research supports the whooping cough vaccine safe during pregnancy but some people may experience side effects that are usually mild. In nature. These Side effects do not interact with your daily life activities and include fatigue, pain, swelling, stomach upset, and fever. These are similar to injection site side effects.

Flu Vaccine

Pregnancy is a good time to receive a flu vaccine because pregnant people are at greater risk of severe illness from the flu virus. This may happen due to temporary changes in overall organ functions and immune system. Similar to whooping cough vaccination, time is the key to providing optimal protection against flu. The health sciences department recommends that receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy can ensure the most adequate protection possible for both the baby and the mother.

COVID-19 Vaccine

The people who have not had their COVID-19 vaccine yet are suggested to receive one during pregnancy because it is safe to get this vaccination during pregnancy. In fact, studies suggest that COVID-19 booster shots are crucial for a safe pregnancy. 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine

This virus causes the most dangerous type of colds and coughs. RSV usually gets better with time on its own but for babies, it may be fatal. This notorious virus is known for causing serious lung infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which can harm babies and make it difficult for them to feed and breathe properly. Babies are carried to hospitals to treat such infections. 

Receiving the RSV vaccine during pregnancy can ensure the protection of your baby against this infection. This means your baby has less chance of getting affected by RSV for the first six months after birth. Around week 30 of your antenatal appointment, you should get the RSV vaccine for pregnancy. Receiving this vaccine as soon as possible can help you protect your baby. But in some cases, it may be given later till your time to go into labor.

If you are 30 weeks pregnant and still not given the RSV vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider or maternity doctor.

Vaccines Prohibited for Pregnant People

Live vaccines are not advised for pregnant people. Vaccines saving live versions of viruses, such as MMR, are not suitable for the health of the baby and the mother. Because the risk factors are associated with these vaccines which may cause infections to your unborn baby. However, there is no solid authentic proof that claims a link between live vaccines and birth defects.

If the risk of infection gets more severe than the risk of vaccination, doctors suggest giving live vaccines to pregnant people. Consult your GP, pharmacist, or midwife together for advice about vaccines for pregnancy. Live vaccines include:

• Yellow fever vaccine.
• Oral polio vaccine.
• Tuberculosis vaccine.
• Mumps And measles vaccine.
• Typhoid vaccine.

Vaccines Recommended for Traveling during Pregnancy

Abiding traveling to countries or areas where travel vacuum is necessary, is best for you. Get thorough information about health management before planning to visit other countries during pregnancy. However, sometimes it is indispensable to travel to countries that require travel vaccines. In such cases talk to your midwife or GP to discuss the benefits and risks of these vaccinations you might need. If the areas where you want to travel have high risks of infections, it is best to have a vaccine rather than travel unprotected as most infections may be more harmful to your baby than a vaccine. For example, yellow fever is a fatal infectious disease. Most people die from this fever. It is a live vaccine which means live versions of viruses, but you must receive the yellow fever vaccine before traveling to the areas where yellow fever is common because the risk of yellow fever is very high.

Malaria Vaccine during Pregnancy

Malaria is a common disease that can easily affect pregnant women. This is a serious illness and can be fatal for both the mother and the baby. Malaria is a prevailing disease in:

• The Middle East.
• Central America and South America.
• Africa.
• Asia.

Avoid travel to these areas during pregnancy. However, if going there is indispensable, preventative treatment is available. You can take antimalarial tablets to reduce the severity of symptoms.

Moreover, antimalarial medicines should be taken according to your doctor’s advice. Because in some countries certain antimalarial medicines do not work properly because the malaria parasite has developed resistance to them. In addition, some antimalarial medicines affect the developing fetus and after birth too. Doxycycline antimalarial drug causes discoloration of a baby’s milk teeth if a tenant woman takes it during pregnancy. 

Therefore, it is suggested that you make sure that you have taken necessary precautions against being bitten by insects during pregnancy. You should use a mosquito repellent that is specifically recommended for pregnant women and wear a long-sleeved shirt with full-length socks to cover your skin from dusk to dawn. Sleeping under a mosquito net can also protect you from mosquito bites.

Conclusion

Although vaccination is the safest way to get protection against serious fatal infections or diseases. However, some vaccines are not good for pregnant people. There is still no strong evidence that proves the connection between vaccines during pregnancy and birth defects but some studies claim that certain live vaccines may cause birth irregularities and developmental issues in newborns. 

In addition, some vaccines can cause mild side effects that may occur after childbirth. So it is suggested that consulting your healthcare professional about any concerns you have regarding vaccines during pregnancy, is the effective way to protect both you and your baby from these side effects. Your doctors can help you to take steps that can ensure the best possible health for both the baby and the mother.