Ideally, you should try to avoid visiting destinations which require vaccinations while you are pregnant. This is because very little research has been carried out into the effects of vaccinations on unborn babies.
Live vaccines are thought to pose the greatest risk. This type of vaccination contains a small amount of live virus, which may potentially affect your baby. Live vaccines include:
- BCG (vaccination against tuberculosis),
- MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella)
- oral polio,
- oral typhoid, and
- yellow fever.
It may not always be possible to avoid visiting destinations which require vaccinations while you are pregnant. If this is the case, you should speak to your GP who will be able to outline the risks and benefits of any vaccinations that you may require.
If there is a high risk of disease in the area that you are travelling to, it is often safer for you to have a vaccine, rather than travel unprotected. This is because most diseases will be more harmful to your baby than a vaccine.
Pregnancy and malaria
Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to malaria. Malaria is a very serious condition which, in severe cases, can be fatal for both a mother and her baby. Malaria predominantly affects countries in:
- Africa,
- south and central America,
- Asia, and
- the middle east.
If possible, you should avoid travelling to countries in these areas if you are pregnant. If you cannot postpone or cancel your trip, preventative treatment is available. The treatment you receive will depend on what stage of your pregnancy you are in.
If you are pregnant, you should take precautions against being bitten by insects. Use a mosquito repellent that is specifically recommended for use in pregnancy. You should also make sure that you wear a long sleeved top, full length trousers and socks to cover up your skin from dusk until dawn, and always sleep under a mosquito net.
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