Ideally, women should be vaccinated against preventable diseases in their environment prior to conception according to the recommended adult immunization schedule. In particular, for susceptible women of childbearing age who may become pregnant, ensuring immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella and varicella are important since these immunizations are contraindicated during pregnancy and infection in nonimmune pregnant women can adversely affect pregnancy outcome.
Before administering any vaccine, reasonable practices include asking the woman if she is pregnant or could become pregnant in the next four weeks and counseling her about the potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy or just before conception. Routine pregnancy testing of women of childbearing age before administering a vaccine, even a live-virus vaccine, is not necessary as long as pregnancy can reasonably be…
