Vaccinate properly before and during pregnancy
Especially in the period before pregnancy, it is important to update your vaccination certificate in order to protect yourself and your future child. Our medical director Prof. Dr. Andreas Obruca recommends timely vaccination planning if you are planning to have children. In addition to vaccinations against influenza or tetanus, he is also clearly in favor of a corona vaccination during and before pregnancy.
Vaccinations during pregnancy have been a hotly debated topic for years. The Kinderwunschzentrum an der Wien welcomes the decision of the national vaccination committee, which is now clearly in favor of a corona vaccination for pregnant women. Prof. Obruca hopes that the current vaccination debate will increase the patients' willingness to vaccinate: “Vaccinations before and during pregnancy not only protect the mothers, but also protect their children from serious illnesses. They are therefore particularly important."
Check your vaccination status before starting your Fertility Journey
Miscarriages or premature births, malformations and serious consequential damage to the child can be avoided by preparing for the vaccinations in good time. Vaccinations against influenza, diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis are strongly recommended during pregnancy, preferably after the first trimester of pregnancy. In the case of influenza waves, the well-tolerated influenza vaccination can be given at any time during pregnancy. "If you want to have children, you should get any missing vaccinations in good time before the planned pregnancy. This also applies to general vaccinations such as the tick vaccination, ”says Prof. Obruca.
Timing is what counts
That is why the fertility expert advises that you draw up a vaccination plan before you get pregnant. Because with live vaccinations, such as against rubella or chickenpox, timing is crucial. These are contraindicated during pregnancy and should therefore be done up to one month before conception. Since the corona vaccination does not contain a living virus, the mRNA vaccine does not represent an increased risk for pregnant women and the fetus according to current data.
COVID-19 vaccination - no impairment of fertility
Pregnant women have an increased risk of developing COVID-19 and can avoid premature births and consequential damage due to COVID-19 disease with appropriate vaccination protection. Ideally, the vaccination should take place after the first trimester. “In general, the benefit and risk must be weighed individually. Pregnant women respond very well to the vaccination and pass on protective antibodies to their child. That is why we are clearly in favor of a corona vaccination before a planned pregnancy as well as during pregnancy. Women who want to have children should also urgently get vaccinated: no impairment of fertility is to be expected. "
At least as important is the vaccination of one's own partner as well as of close contact persons. This can minimize the risk of a COVID-19 infection, especially in pregnant women who have not (yet) been vaccinated. In men in particular, there is a rumor that the quality of semen may deteriorate due to the vaccination. "In contrast to the very likely impairment of male fertility in the case of a COVID-19 disease, this is not to be expected at all with a vaccination," says Prof. Obruca.