Vaccines to Get Before Seeing—or Delivering—a Newborn

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In the first hours and weeks of your newborn’s life, you begin protecting them: stocking the diaper bag, installing the car seat, baby-proofing the home. But another kind of protection happens at a microscopic level long before your baby arrives: vaccination.

“Since newborns’ immune systems are still developing, they can’t receive most vaccines until they’re several months old,” said Jonathan Grein, MD, director of Hospital Epidemiology and infection control officer at Cedars-Sinai. “That means parents, grandparents and close caregivers become the first line of defense against serious illnesses.”

Why Vaccines Matter When Visiting a Newborn

Newborns are particularly vulnerable to respiratory and bacteria-driven illnesses such as pertussis (whooping cough), influenza (flu), SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). For immature immune systems, these infections can be severe and even life-threatening.

Babies aren’t eligible for whooping cough vaccinations until they’re 2 months old, and they’re not eligible for flu shots or COVID-19 vaccines until they’re 6 months old. During that window of vulnerability, the best defense for your baby is to prevent bugs from ever entering their system.

“Staying up to date on the recommended vaccinations helps ensure you won’t unwittingly pass along a serious illness to a vulnerable child,” said Grein.

“Since newborns’ immune systems are still developing, they can’t receive most vaccines until they’re several months old. That means parents, grandparents and close caregivers become the first line of defense against serious illnesses.”

Essential Vaccines to Get Before Your First Newborn Visit

Protecting newborns begins with vaccinating everyone who will be in close contact with the baby.

“When the people who will be caring for a newborn have the appropriate vaccinations, they build an invisible biological shield around the child,” said Pamela Phillips, MD, practicing pediatrician and medical director of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Group.

A bonus: When pregnant women get vaccinated, they pass protective antibodies to their unborn babies.

The top four vaccines you should get before seeing a newborn:

1. ‍Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis): Whooping cough is especially dangerous for infants. It can cause severe coughing fits, pneumonia and even death. Health authorities recommend pregnant women receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks, to ensure optimal protection for baby. “It’s also important for grandparents and other caregivers to confirm they’ve had a Tdap booster within the past 10 years,” said Phillips. “If not, they should get a Tdap vaccination at least two weeks before meeting the baby to give their body time to build antibodies.” ‍
2. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization in infants, especially during the fall and winter months. “Vaccines against RSV for pregnant women, given in the third trimester, are now available. They’re a great option for families aiming to protect their baby before birth,” Grein said. Infants up to age 8 months may receive a one-time monoclonal antibody injection against RSV if their mother did not receive the vaccine during pregnancy.‍
3. Influenza (flu): Infants under 6 months old are at risk of serious complications from the flu. Health authorities advise everyone who will be in contact with the baby to get the flu vaccine, including expectant mothers. “Since moms transfer antibodies to the baby during pregnancy, getting the flu vaccine not only protects mom, but also the baby,” said Phillips. ‍
4. COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is still out there infecting people daily. And while severe outcomes in healthy infants are uncommon, serious illness can still occur. Plus, it can be difficult to take care of a newborn when you’re sick with COVID-19. “For pregnant women, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adds another layer of protection,” said Grein. Studies link COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy with a lower risk of severe illness and preterm birth, and lower rates of infection for infants up to 6 months of age.

How to Talk About Vaccination With Close Contacts

Talking with friends and family about vaccines can be tricky. But anyone who will be in regular contact with your baby should be up to date on routine vaccinations.

“It’s best to frame the conversation around love and protection,” Phillips said. “Explain that these vaccines are safe, widely recommended and provide protection against severe illness.”

Some families set gentle boundaries by asking visitors to wait a few weeks after vaccination before meeting the baby. Others postpone visits until the child is old enough to be vaccinated. No matter which route you choose, your child’s safety must come first.

How to Keep Babies Safe

Vaccination is one of the most powerful tools families have to safeguard vulnerable newborns, but everyday habits play an important supporting role. Washing hands before holding a baby, staying home when sick and masking when respiratory illness is circulating can help limit exposure during a baby’s first weeks of life.

“Newborns don’t need a sterile world. They need a prepared one,” said Phillips. “Focusing on simple, consistent steps like hand hygiene and staying home when sick gives babies time to build strong, healthy immune systems.”