OB-GYN group makes vaccine recommendations for the first time
[June 11, 2026]
By LAURA UNGAR
A prominent OB-GYN group announced vaccine recommendations on Wednesday
that differ from what the U.S. government advises.
The immunization schedule is specifically for pregnant, postpartum and
breastfeeding women. It aligns with prior recommendations from the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, before changes were made
under the Trump administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy
Jr.
Earlier this year, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists
withdrew from a CDC advisory committee on vaccines because of those
changes, which have spawned legal challenges.
“So now for the first time, ACOG has made the decision to formally
release its own immunization schedule to provide and communicate clear
evidence-based guidance and to address the growing vaccine
misinformation that is circulating,” said Dr. Christopher Zahn, the
OB-GYN group’s chief of clinical practice.
The new schedule has been endorsed by 13 other professional and medical
societies. Some other groups, such as the American Academy of
Pediatrics, have also put out vaccine schedules this year that differ
from the CDC's.
Here’s what you need to know about the OB-GYN group's advice.
What does the OB-GYN group advise?
Four immunizations are routinely recommended during pregnancy:
— The flu vaccine, which can be taken any trimester, at any time of
year, although it’s best to get it in early fall.
— The COVID-19 shot, which can be taken during any trimester at any time
of year, although it’s best to receive it as soon as possible during
pregnancy.
— A tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) shot, preferably as early
as possible between 27 and 36 weeks.
— A respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, between 32 and 36 weeks
of pregnancy in your first pregnancy, during September through January
in most parts of the U.S. If you had the RSV vaccine during a previous
pregnancy, you do not need to get it again, the group says, but your
baby should get an antibody shot after birth. Your baby can also get
that shot instead of you receiving the maternal vaccine.
Other vaccines –- pneumococcal, meningococcal, hepatitis A and hepatitis
B –- may be needed for women with certain risk factors. The group
recommends talking with your doctor about them.
[to top of second column]
|
Lauren Ellenburg, a nurse, prepares a combination measles,
mumps and rubella vaccine for a patient at Tiger Pediatrics in
Easley, S.C., March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)
 Three others are recommended before
pregnancy or after birth, protecting against human papillomavirus;
measles, mumps and rubella; and chickenpox.
How do these recommendations differ from CDC advice?
The biggest difference involves the COVID-19 vaccine.
Last May, Kennedy announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer
recommended for healthy pregnant women and children — a move
immediately questioned by several public health experts.
Spokespeople from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Are health care providers seeing pushback on vaccines?
Yes. Several spoke at an event announcing the new guidelines.
“Vaccine hesitancy is huge in this country right now," said Carol
Hayes of the American College of Nurse Midwives. “Patients come in
all the time saying I’ve done my own research, and sadly, they’re
doing research and they’re getting information that is not
scientifically based.”
Sarah Vaillancourt of the National Association of Nurse
Practitioners in Women’s Health said her organization’s members are
seeing much the same. Some of the confusion is being fueled by
social media, she said.
In such a landscape, she said, it’s “really useful” for the OB-GYN
group to provide accurate information for patients.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support
from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational
Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely
responsible for all content.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
