Is it safe to get a flu shot if I’m trying to get pregnant?

Yes. In fact, it could even save your life.

Getting the flu shot while you're trying to conceive can protect you from serious complications if you become pregnant during flu season. It's so important that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes both women who are pregnant and women who will be pregnant during the flu season on its list of high-risk groups.

And pregnant women who get the flu are at higher risk of severe illness, sometimes requiring hospitalization, due to changes in their immune system.

See our article on the flu shot during pregnancy for more information on why getting the flu shot is not only safe but crucial – for your health as well as your baby's health.

When should I get the flu shot?

Both the CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that women who are pregnant or who will be pregnant during flu season get the shot as soon as it's available each year (usually in September or October). That's because it takes two weeks for your body to build up protective antibodies, and you want to be protected before flu season starts.

You can get the shot from your healthcare provider or at a pharmacy. Or try HealthMap's flu vaccine finderOpens a new window.

Which flu vaccine should I get?

ACOG recommends that women who are or will be pregnant during flu season receive an inactivated flu vaccine, so opt for the flu shot. (The shot is inactivated, but the nasal spray flu vaccine contains a live virus.)

What are the possible side effects from the flu vaccine?

Side effects of the flu shot are generally mild and include soreness, redness, or swelling in the area of the shot. Less common side effects include fainting, headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea, or fatigue.

Be sure to tell the person administering the shot if you have severe allergies, if you've had a severe allergic reaction to the flu shot in the past, or if you have Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Where to get more information

Visit the CDC's flu siteOpens a new window for more information about the flu.