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PEEL TRAVEL CLINIC & Saldanha Health Centre

Travel Vaccines During Pregnancy

Traveling while pregnant requires careful planning. Some vaccines are safe and important for protecting you and your baby, while others — particularly live vaccines — require special consideration. Zika and malaria pose serious risks during pregnancy that must be assessed for any tropical destination.

Our Mississauga travel medicine physician has specific expertise in pregnancy travel health and will provide a personalized risk assessment for your trip.

Vaccine Safety in Pregnancy

✓ Generally Safe in Pregnancy

Inactivated vaccines — safe when travel benefit outweighs risk

✗ Contraindicated in Pregnancy

Live vaccines — avoid during pregnancy

  • ✗MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) — live vaccine, contraindicated
  • ✗Varicella (chickenpox) — live vaccine, contraindicated
  • ✗Zoster/Shingles (Zostavax) — live vaccine, contraindicated
  • ✗Yellow Fever — live vaccine; use with caution, avoid if possible
  • ✗BCG (tuberculosis) — live vaccine, contraindicated
  • ✗Typhoid oral (Vivotif) — live vaccine; use injectable form instead

Zika Virus — Avoid Risk Areas During Pregnancy

Zika virus can cause severe fetal brain abnormalities including microcephaly and other serious neurological damage. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika. Health Canada advises pregnant women to avoid travel to Zika risk areas.

Zika-endemic regions include: Mexico, Central America, South America (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, etc.), the Caribbean, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia), and Pacific Islands.

If you become pregnant after travel to a Zika area, or your partner has traveled, consult your obstetrician or our travel medicine physician for screening guidance.

Malaria in Pregnancy

Malaria infection during pregnancy can cause maternal anemia, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth weight, and maternal or fetal death. Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe malaria than non-pregnant adults.

Safe Options (Prescription)

  • •Chloroquine — safe in pregnancy (chloroquine-sensitive areas only)
  • •Mefloquine — considered relatively safe after 1st trimester in appropriate regions

Avoid in Pregnancy

  • ✗Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) — contraindicated
  • ✗Doxycycline — contraindicated
  • ✗Primaquine — contraindicated

All malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy requires a prescription and individual assessment. Our physician will advise based on your destination, gestational age, and malaria drug resistance patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vaccines are safe during pregnancy?

Inactivated (killed) vaccines are generally considered safe during pregnancy when the benefit outweighs the risk. Safe vaccines include: Influenza (flu shot — actually recommended in pregnancy), Tdap (whooping cough booster, recommended in every pregnancy at 27–32 weeks), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Meningococcal, and Polio (IPV). Live vaccines — including MMR, Varicella (chickenpox), and Yellow Fever — are generally contraindicated during pregnancy. However, yellow fever vaccine may be considered if travel to a high-risk area cannot be avoided.

Can I travel to a Zika risk area while pregnant?

No — Health Canada and most travel medicine guidelines strongly advise pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with active Zika virus transmission. Zika can cause severe fetal brain abnormalities including microcephaly. Zika risk areas include parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. If you must travel to these regions, consult our physician first. There is no vaccine for Zika.

Is malaria safe to prevent during pregnancy?

Malaria in pregnancy is extremely dangerous — it can cause maternal anemia, premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal or fetal death. For pregnant women who must travel to malaria areas, prevention is critical. Chloroquine and Mefloquine are considered relatively safe options for malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy (in appropriate regions). Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) and Doxycycline are contraindicated in pregnancy. Our physician will advise the safest option based on your destination.

When is the safest time to travel during pregnancy?

The second trimester (14–28 weeks) is generally the safest and most comfortable time to travel. First trimester carries the highest risk of miscarriage and fatigue. Third trimester increases risks of pre-term labour, and many airlines restrict travel after 36 weeks (or earlier for twin pregnancies). Most cruise lines and airlines have their own policies — check before booking. Regardless of trimester, consult our travel medicine physician before any international travel while pregnant.

Can I get the Hepatitis A vaccine while pregnant?

Hepatitis A vaccine is an inactivated vaccine and is considered safe in pregnancy when travel to a high-risk area is necessary. Hepatitis A infection in pregnancy can cause severe complications for the mother. The risk-benefit assessment strongly favours vaccination for pregnant women traveling to high-risk regions such as India, Southeast Asia, Africa, or Latin America. Discuss with our physician, who can advise based on your specific destination and trimester.

Traveling While Pregnant? Book a Consultation

Our travel medicine physician will provide a full pregnancy travel risk assessment and safe vaccine plan.

Call (905) 890-2757

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Disclaimer: Vaccine safety in pregnancy is complex and depends on gestational age, destination, and individual health factors. This page provides general guidance only and does not replace a personalized consultation with our travel medicine physician. All vaccine and medication decisions in pregnancy should be made with your healthcare provider.