Vaccine is a substance that stimulates the body to produce immunity to fight against diseases. Most substances come from bacteria, viruses, or toxins of pathogens and can be divided into 3 types as follows:
- Toxoids are vaccines made by inactivating the toxins of pathogens but still retain the ability to stimulate immunity effectively, such as diphtheria toxin and tetanus toxin.
- Killed Vaccine is a vaccine made from pathogens that have been killed. It may use the whole pathogen or extract parts of it to make the vaccine, such as pertussis vaccine, seasonal flu vaccine, injectable polio vaccine, and hepatitis B vaccine.
- Live Attenuated Vaccine is a vaccine made by culturing and multiplying the pathogen, then weakening it so it cannot cause disease but still stimulates immunity, such as rubella vaccine and mumps vaccine.
Currently, there are many types of vaccines that pregnant women should receive for the health and safety of both mother and baby. Normally, all pregnant women should receive vaccines before pregnancy, but some may not have been vaccinated before pregnancy, which increases the risk of infection.
Why are vaccines important for pregnant women?
Vaccines are very important for pregnant women for the health and safety of both mother and fetus. In fact, vaccines are important for women even before pregnancy because before pregnancy, women should receive important vaccines for pregnancy, especially the “rubella vaccine” to prevent harm to the fetus in the future, which is very important.
How dangerous is rubella for the baby?
Rubella is a disease caused by a viral infection. If contracted during pregnancy, it can cause birth defects in the baby. When the fetus is infected with the virus, cell division in various parts of the fetus stops, or organs and tissues become smaller and produce fewer cells than normal. Organ development is slow and abnormal, resulting in defective organs. For the safety of expectant mothers and future babies, after receiving the rubella vaccine, contraception should be used reliably and continuously for at least 3 months because the rubella virus used in the vaccine is a live but weakened virus. When injected, the body produces immunity within 60 days, and the virus is then destroyed. This immunity lasts for many years, and if the virus enters the body again, the immune system can destroy it, preventing disease and providing lifelong protection for the mother.
If not vaccinated before pregnancy, which vaccines should be given during pregnancy?
- Tetanus vaccine The World Health Organization recommends this vaccine for pregnant women to prevent tetanus infection in newborns. The tetanus vaccine is a killed vaccine containing tetanus toxoid, which helps protect both mother and newborn from tetanus.
- Diphtheria vaccine is a killed vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid. Since the vaccine is safe, it is recommended for pregnant women to prevent diphtheria in both mother and newborn.
- Pertussis vaccine Pertussis is a respiratory infectious disease that can cause respiratory failure and death if severe. The pertussis vaccine is a killed vaccine that can be given to pregnant women to protect both mother and newborn from pertussis.
- Influenza vaccine Influenza is more dangerous for pregnant women than for others, causing severe complications such as pneumonia, pericarditis, and heart failure, which can lead to death of both mother and fetus. One dose of the vaccine can provide protection for one year.
- Hepatitis B vaccine is another vaccine that pregnant women should receive, especially those at risk, such as having family members who are carriers of hepatitis B virus. This is a killed vaccine and is safe for both mother and baby.
