Immunization in pregnancy

Objective: To review the evidence and provide recommendations on immunization in pregnancy. Outcomes: Outcomes evaluated include effectiveness of immunization, and risks and benefits for mother and fetus. Evidence: The Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for articles published up to June 2007 on the topic of immunization in pregnancy. Values: The evidence obtained was reviewed and evaluated by the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) under the leadership of the principal authors, and recommendations were made according to guidelines developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Benefits, Harms, and Costs: Implementation of the recommendations in this guideline should result in more appropriate immunization of pregnant and breastfeeding women, decreased risk of contraindicated immunization, and better disease prevention.