Travel & Other Vaccines

Learn about other vaccines you might benefit from during pregnancy and when traveling to another country or region.

Quick Facts

  • Your healthcare provider may recommend other vaccinations during pregnancy based on your vaccination history and specific needs, like the Hepatitis B vaccine.

  • If you are pregnant and planning a trip, talk to your healthcare provider about any travel vaccines you could benefit from getting beforehand.

  • Depending on your travel destination, your healthcare provider may recommend that you get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Typhoid Fever.

Additional Pregnancy Vaccines

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend other routine vaccines during pregnancy besides flu, Tdap, COVID-19, and RSVpreF. For example, they might suggest getting the Hepatitis B vaccine if it’s needed based on your individual health or vaccination history.

Speak with your healthcare provider to find out if there are other vaccines that could benefit you during pregnancy. They can make recommendations based on your individual health needs.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

  • Hepatitis B is a serious infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which mainly affects the liver. It passes from person to person through blood and body fluids.1 A pregnant person with hepatitis B can also pass the infection to their baby when giving birth, which is the most common way babies are infected with hepatitis B before they’re old enough to get vaccinated.2

    Hepatitis B infections can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term):

    • Acute Hepatitis B: This short-term infection occurs when someone is first exposed to the virus. Most healthy adults with acute hepatitis B recover on their own after weeks or months, and the virus clears from their body without lasting effects.1

    • Chronic Hepatitis B: If the infection lasts longer than six months, it becomes chronic. This happens when the immune system is unable to fully clear the virus. Chronic hepatitis B can last a lifetime and may cause serious liver issues, such as cirrhosis (scarring) or liver cancer.1

    The risk of developing chronic hepatitis B depends on the age of infection.3 The younger a person is when they catch the virus, the higher their risk of developing a chronic infection.3

    The biggest concern with hepatitis B during pregnancy is the risk of passing the virus to the baby. This typically happens during delivery, when the baby is exposed to the parent’s infected blood or other body fluids.4

  • In most cases, hepatitis B infections during pregnancy do not increase the risk of negative pregnancy outcomes.5-7 However, some studies show that acute (new) hepatitis B infections during pregnancy may increase the risk of complications like preterm birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and low birth weight.5,7

    The biggest concern with hepatitis B during pregnancy is the risk of passing the virus to the baby. This typically happens during delivery, when the baby is exposed to their parent’s infected blood or other body fluids.4,5 The risk of passing the virus is even higher if the parent catches hepatitis B towards the end of their pregnancy.5

    It’s important to protect newborns from hepatitis B because they are much more likely than adults to develop a lifelong, chronic infection. The younger a person is when they get hepatitis B, the higher their risk of developing long-term health issues.2,3

    • Around 9 out of 10 babies (90%) who catch hepatitis B at birth will develop a lifelong, chronic infection.2

    • Without proper medical treatment, 1 in 4 babies infected at birth will develop serious liver problems, such as liver failure or liver cancer later in life.2

  • Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you and your baby from hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all pregnant individuals who have not been vaccinated before.8

    Getting vaccinated protects you from catching the virus and lowers the risk of passing hepatitis B to your baby. Research also shows that pregnant individuals vaccinated against hepatitis B can pass protective antibodies to their baby through the placenta.9-10 These antibodies help to protect newborns in the first few months of life.9-10 To keep them protected long-term, babies can receive their own hepatitis B vaccines as part of their routine vaccinations at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.11

    Some babies are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B and need a vaccine right after birth.11 If a parent has hepatitis B, their baby should be vaccinated immediately after birth to reduce the risk of infection.12

    All pregnant individuals should have a hepatitis B blood test as part of their regular prenatal care. If the test is positive, your healthcare provider will take steps to protect your baby from infection by giving them two important shots shortly after birth:

    • The first shot is called Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG). This provides your baby with immediate, short-term protection against the virus.12

    • The second shot is the hepatitis B vaccine, which teaches your baby’s immune system to produce antibodies that protect them from the virus over the long term.12

  • The hepatitis B vaccine is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals.10,13-15 Research shows that getting the hepatitis B vaccine in pregnancy does not increase the risk of complications with pregnancy or birth.10,13-15

    Like the flu and Tdap vaccines, the hepatitis B vaccine recommended for pregnant people does not contain a live virus, so there is no risk of the vaccine causing an infection in you or your baby.

    If you haven’t received the hepatitis B vaccine before pregnancy, it is recommended during pregnancy to help protect both you and your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information on whether the hepatitis B vaccine is right for you.

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Travel Vaccines

If you are pregnant and planning to travel to another country or region, your healthcare provider may recommend certain travel vaccines depending on your destination. Typically, only inactivated vaccines (which don’t contain live germs) are considered safe for pregnant individuals. However, in rare cases, a live-attenuated vaccine (which contains a weakened form of the germ) may be recommended if your risk of getting a serious infection is high enough to pose a significant threat to you or your baby.¹⁶

For example, some countries require travellers to be vaccinated against yellow fever before gaining entry. While the yellow fever vaccine is typically not recommended during pregnancy, it may be considered if there’s an outbreak and a high risk of infection.¹⁶ If you're traveling to an area where yellow fever is common, talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you weigh the risks of the infection against any potential risks of the vaccine.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

  • Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus leads to inflammation and damage to the liver, making it harder for the liver to work properly.17 Common symptoms of hepatitis A include

    • Fatigue (tiredness),

    • Fever

    • Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea

    • Dark urine (pee), light coloured stool (poop)

    • Yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice.17

    Hepatitis A spreads when the virus from an infected person's feces (poop) contaminates food, drinks, or surfaces that others touch or consume.17 This can happen if someone doesn’t wash their hands properly after using the bathroom and then touches food that others eat. The virus can also be found in contaminated water or food, especially raw or undercooked items. Hepatitis A can also spread through close personal contact with an infected person including sex or sharing objects like needles or pipes when using drugs.17-18

    Most people with hepatitis A experience mild symptoms and recover on their own in a few weeks or months.17-18 However, hepatitis A infections in pregnancy can increase the risk of complications like preterm (early) labour, especially if the infection happens later in pregnancy.18-20

  • Hepatitis A is more common in places where access to clean water and proper sanitation is limited.17-18 These conditions can make it easier for the virus to spread. This is why the hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for people traveling to certain countries or regions where the risk of infection is higher. You can find a list of destinations on the Government of Canada website here.

  • Pregnancy causes many changes in the body that affect how it responds to and fights infections. These changes can make it more likely for pregnant people to get very sick from infections compared to people who aren’t pregnant.  

    Hepatitis A infections during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications, such as preterm (early) labor or placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus too early).17-20 In very rare cases, hepatitis A can be passed from an infected parent to their baby during pregnancy, but the chances of this happening are low.21-23 There is also a very small chance of an infected parent passing the virus to their baby during or shortly after delivery.24-26

  • The hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for pregnant individuals who plan to travel to regions where the virus is more common, and the risk of infection is higher. You can find a list of these regions on the Government of Canada website here.

  • The hepatitis A vaccine given during pregnancy does not contain a 'live' virus, so it can’t cause infection or harm you or your baby. Real-world data on hundreds of pregnant people who received the hepatitis A vaccine show no increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.27-28

    Talk to your healthcare provider for more information on the hepatitis A vaccine and whether it is right for you.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

  • Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi, a bacteria related to the one that causes salmonella food poisoning.29 These bacteria are found in the feces (poop) and, to a lesser extent, urine (pee) of infected individuals.29

    Typhoid is very contagious and spreads easily from person to person. It often spreads when someone with the infection doesn't wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. This can transfer the bacteria to anything they touch, including food and water. When others consume contaminated food or water, or have close contact with the sick person, they can catch typhoid.30

    Common symptoms of typhoid include a high fever (up to 104°F or 40°C), weakness, stomach pain, loss of appetite, and headaches.31 Some people may also develop a rash with flat, pink spots.31  Without proper medical treatment, typhoid can cause serious complications and even be fatal.

  • Typhoid fever is more common in places where access to clean water and proper sanitation is limited. A list of countries is available from the Government of Canada here.

  • During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes to nourish a growing baby. This can make it harder for your body to fight off infections. These changes can make it more likely for pregnant people to get very sick from infections compared to people who aren’t pregnant.  

    Typhoid fever can be particularly harmful during pregnancy. If not treated, it may lead to serious complications like premature (early) birth, miscarriage, or stillbirth.32-34 In very rare cases, the infection can be passed from the pregnant person to their baby during pregnancy.32-34

  • Typhoid vaccination is recommended for pregnant individuals who plan to travel to regions where typhoid is more common, and the risk of infection is higher. You can find more information on the Government of Canada website here.

  • There are two types of typhoid fever vaccines:

    1. The inactivated (killed) vaccine, called Typh-I, is given as a single shot in the arm.35 This vaccine is considered safe to receive during pregnancy because it does not contain live bacteria and cannot cause infection.36

    2. The live attenuated (weakened) vaccine, called Typh-O, is taken by mouth in pill form.35 This vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy due to the theoretical (although very low) risk of infection from the live bacteria.

    Inactivated vaccines like Typh-I are considered safe for pregnant individuals because they do not contain live germs and cannot harm you or your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information on whether the typhoid vaccination is right for you.

    Talk to your healthcare provider for more information on the hepatitis A vaccine and whether it is right for you.

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Other Travel Vaccines

Other vaccines, like those for meningitis and polio, may be recommended based on your individual circumstances or travel destination.

You can also use the Government of Canada's Travel Health and Safety tool to see what vaccines are recommended for your destination.