Protect Your Baby Before Birth
Vaccination during pregnancy is one of the most powerful ways to safeguard your newborn. The antibodies you produce cross the placenta and protect your baby during their most vulnerable first 6 months of life.
Thailand Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women
The Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand provides clear guidelines on when to receive each vaccine during pregnancy.
Influenza & COVID-19
Both vaccines can be administered from 12 weeks of gestation onwards. For better infant protection, consider vaccination after 20 weeks.
More details
Multiple doses can be given during pregnancy, spaced at least 6 months apart. For high-risk groups, annual influenza vaccination is recommended.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Recommended between 20-32 weeks of gestation for every pregnancy or at least 2-year intervals between doses.
More details
Three cases: (1) Never vaccinated against tetanus — receive Td dose 0,1, then Tdap at 20-32 weeks; (2) Tetanus vaccine >10 years ago — receive Tdap at 20-32 weeks; (3) Tetanus vaccine within 10 years — receive single pertussis vaccine at 20-32 weeks.
RSV
Recommended at 24-36 weeks gestation throughout the year. Optimal timing is 28-32 weeks.
More details
At least 5 weeks between vaccination and delivery is needed. If delivery occurs within 2 weeks of vaccination, the infant can receive monoclonal antibody instead. RSV vaccine and monoclonal antibody have similar efficacy (~70-75%).
Free Vaccines in Thailand
The following vaccines are included in Thailand's Essential Medicines List and provided free to pregnant women:
Self-Funded Vaccines
COVID-19 and RSV vaccines are not currently covered and must be self-funded, which remains a challenge for equitable access.
Understanding the Diseases
Each of these infections has different characteristics. Understanding them helps you appreciate why vaccination is important.
| Characteristic | Influenza | COVID-19 | Pertussis | RSV |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions
Challenges for Vaccinating Pregnant Women
Safety & Efficacy
Each vaccine must be approved by the FDA and the national vaccination guideline committee. Rigorous safety and efficacy data are required before any vaccine is recommended for pregnant women.
Information Access
Disseminating accurate vaccine information to pregnant women and their families is essential for vaccine acceptance. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in educating and reassuring expectant mothers.
Vaccine Cost
While some vaccines are free in Thailand (tetanus-diphtheria, pertussis, influenza), COVID-19 and RSV vaccines require self-funding, which remains a significant barrier to equitable access.
Protect Two Lives With One Vaccine
Vaccines for pregnant women are important and necessary, they reduce the severity of infections in both pregnant women and newborns up to 6 months of age. All four recommended vaccines target respiratory infections that are easily transmitted and difficult to prevent. Vaccination during pregnancy can be seamlessly integrated into your regular antenatal care program.
Your Vaccination Checklist
Talk to Your Doctor Today
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.