Vaccinations in Pregnancy in Türkiye: Tdap, Tetanus and Flu

Why is the whooping cough vaccine given in pregnancy?

Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also called whooping cough. The aim includes passing maternal antibodies to the baby, helping to protect the baby in the early months after birth.

A previous dose or vaccination during an earlier pregnancy does not automatically remove the recommendation in a new pregnancy. Your team also reviews whether additional tetanus–diphtheria doses are needed from your vaccination history. A person with a completed course and someone with missing or unknown records may need different plans.

What if I am already past 24 weeks?

Do not cancel vaccination yourself or assume that a dose received at another time was necessarily wrong. Tell your obstetrician or family health centre your pregnancy week, previous dose dates and vaccine names so they can plan according to current local guidance.

Record the product, date and any reaction in your maternity notes. If more than one centre is involved in your care, share these records to prevent unnecessary repeat doses.

Flu and other vaccines

The injected inactivated influenza vaccine is among the vaccines that can be used during pregnancy. The season, availability, health history and current national recommendations are considered together. A live nasal-spray flu vaccine is a different product.

Recommendations for COVID-19 and other vaccines may change with time or risk group. Travel, work exposure, chronic conditions or a specific infection contact may require an individual plan. A vaccine schedule from another country may not match the schedule or products available in Türkiye.

Live vaccines and planning before pregnancy

Live vaccines such as measles–mumps–rubella and chickenpox vaccines are not routinely given during pregnancy. When needed, they are usually considered before pregnancy or after birth.

If a vaccine was given before you realised you were pregnant, bring the product name and date to your clinician. The statement “I had a vaccine” is not enough to determine risk. Reviewing records before pregnancy helps identify vaccines that need advance planning, and any outstanding doses can be included in a postpartum plan.

What should I bring to the vaccination discussion?

Bring your vaccine card, previous maternity records or e-Nabız records if available. Tell the clinician about medicines, previous serious allergies and reactions to vaccines. If you received a vaccine abroad, its name and date help the team understand exactly which components it contained.

Mild side effects and a serious allergic reaction are different. Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or tongue, or collapse after vaccination needs emergency care; call 112 in Türkiye.

Common questions

When is the tetanus vaccine given in pregnancy, and how many doses are needed?

Türkiye recommends one Tdap dose at 18–24 weeks in each pregnancy. This does not mean everyone’s total tetanus–diphtheria requirement is just one dose. People with incomplete or uncertain records may need additional Td doses. The product, total doses and intervals are planned from the records with the family doctor and obstetrician.

How long should there be between Td and Tdap?

The Turkish Ministry of Health information cited below specifies at least four weeks between Td and Tdap. Share the date and name of any recent tetanus-containing vaccine and let your care team plan the next dose.

I had whooping cough vaccination in my last pregnancy. Do I need it again?

The current Turkish programme recommends a Tdap dose in each pregnancy. Timing and any additional doses are planned from your records.

Are Td and Tdap the same vaccine?

No. Tdap includes acellular pertussis in addition to tetanus and diphtheria. The vaccine record identifies which product was given.

Should I wait until later in pregnancy to discuss vaccines?

Bring your records to the first appointment. Early planning helps place any needed doses at suitable times.

Is the pregnancy vaccination schedule the same in every country?

No. National schedules and available products can differ. If you started care abroad, your existing records should be reviewed before a local plan is made.