Should I get the RSV vaccine during pregnancy?

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a virus that spreads in the fall and winter. RSV can be dangerous for babies and young children. It is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States.

ACOG recommends the Pfizer RSV vaccine if you are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant from September to January. The vaccine creates antibodies that pass to your fetus. This means the baby will have some antibodies to protect them from RSV for the first 6 months after birth.

There are multiple RSV vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The only RSV vaccine approved by the FDA for use in pregnancy is the one made by Pfizer. It is called Abrysvo.

The RSV vaccine is one of two new options for protecting babies during RSV season. There is also an option to give babies an injection called nirsevimab. Nirsevimab contains lab-made antibodies that protect against RSV. It is not a vaccine.

If this is your first pregnancy, you should get the RSV vaccine. If you got the RSV vaccine during your last pregnancy, this time you won’t need one. But your baby should get nirsevimab.

You can get the Pfizer RSV vaccine at the same time as other vaccines recommended during pregnancy. Common side effects of the RSV vaccine include arm pain, headache, muscle pain, and nausea, similar to other vaccine side effects. Side effects are normal and not a cause for concern.

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This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to health care. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOG’s complete disclaimer.