Travel vaccines in pregnancy: which are safe?
Travelling while pregnant raises understandable questions about which vaccines are safe. The short version: inactivated (non-live) vaccines are generally considered safe when you need them, while most live vaccines are usually avoided unless the risk from the disease clearly outweighs it. But pregnancy travel health is always an individualdecision — here is how we think it through with you.
Medically reviewed by Muhammad Adnan, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2073652) · based on NHS and NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) guidance · last reviewed June 2026.
Inactivated vs live vaccines — the key idea
The main thing that decides whether a travel vaccine can be used in pregnancy is whether it is inactivated (contains no live organism) or live (contains a weakened form). Inactivated vaccines cannot cause the infection and are generally considered safe in pregnancy when they are genuinely needed. Live vaccines carry a theoretical risk, so they are usually avoided — but “usually” is not “never”, because a serious disease in a high-risk destination can outweigh that theoretical risk.
Generally OK when needed (inactivated)
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid — injectable (Vi) vaccine
- Tetanus / diphtheria / polio
- Rabies
- Japanese encephalitis
- Influenza (flu) and COVID-19
- Meningitis ACWY
Usually avoided (live)
- Yellow Fever
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- Chickenpox (varicella)
- BCG (tuberculosis)
- Typhoid — oral capsules (these are live; the injection is not)
⚠️ “Usually avoided” can change if you cannot avoid a genuinely high-risk destination — decided case by case.
Yellow Fever in pregnancy
Yellow Fever vaccine is live and is generally avoided in pregnancy. But Yellow Fever disease is serious, so if you cannot avoid travel to an area where it genuinely circulates, vaccination may still be the safer option after a careful risk assessment. If the vaccine is not suitable for you and a country requires a certificate to enter, we can discuss a medical exemption (waiver) certificate. Not sure if your destination even requires one? Check your route with our Yellow Fever certificate checker →
Malaria in pregnancy
This is important: pregnant women are at higher risk of severe malaria. Wherever possible, the safest choice is to avoid travel to malaria-risk areas during pregnancy. If you must go, rigorous mosquito-bite avoidance is essential, and some antimalarial tablets are suitable in pregnancy while others are not — the right choice depends on your destination and stage of pregnancy and is decided at your consultation. Please don't buy or start antimalarials without that advice.
Always tell us if you are pregnant, might be, or are breastfeeding when you book — and ideally before you book your trip. Every recommendation on this page is a general guide; your plan is decided by an individual assessment with a clinician.
Pregnancy FAQ
Pregnancy & travel vaccines — your questions answered
It depends on the vaccine and your trip. As a general rule, inactivated (non-live) vaccines — such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, the injectable typhoid vaccine, tetanus/diphtheria/polio, rabies and Japanese encephalitis — are considered safe in pregnancy when they are needed. Most live vaccines (including Yellow Fever, MMR and chickenpox) are usually avoided in pregnancy unless the risk from the disease clearly outweighs any risk from the vaccine. The right answer is always based on an individual assessment of your destination, how far along you are, and the real-world risk of each disease — so tell us you are pregnant (or trying, or breastfeeding) when you book.
The vaccines usually avoided are the live ones: Yellow Fever, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), chickenpox (varicella), BCG (tuberculosis) and the oral typhoid capsules (which are live — the injectable typhoid vaccine is not). 'Usually avoided' does not mean 'never' — if you cannot avoid travel to a high-risk area, a vaccine may still be recommended after weighing the risks. This is exactly the kind of decision we help you make.
Yellow Fever vaccine is a live vaccine and is generally avoided in pregnancy. However, if you cannot avoid travel to an area with a genuine risk of Yellow Fever, vaccination may still be recommended because Yellow Fever itself is very serious. If the vaccine is not suitable for you but a country requires a certificate for entry, we can discuss a medical exemption (waiver) certificate. This always needs an individual risk assessment.
Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe malaria, so this matters. Where possible, the safest option is to avoid travel to malaria-risk areas during pregnancy. If you must travel, rigorous mosquito-bite avoidance is essential, and some antimalarial tablets are suitable in pregnancy while others are not — the right choice depends on your destination and stage of pregnancy and is decided at your consultation. Please do not start or buy antimalarials without that advice.
Most travel vaccines are considered compatible with breastfeeding, and the same destination-based assessment applies. A couple of vaccines (such as Yellow Fever) need extra thought if you are breastfeeding a very young baby. Let us know at your appointment and we will advise you specifically.
At Altrincham Travel Clinic in Timperley — serving Manchester, Trafford, Stockport, Cheshire and the surrounding area. We run individual pre-travel assessments for pregnant travellers, covering which vaccines are appropriate, malaria, and food, water and general safety advice. Book ahead of your trip so there is time to plan.
Important: This page is general information based on NHS and NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro) guidance and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Vaccine and antimalarial decisions in pregnancy are always made on an individual basis. Sources: TravelHealthPro — pregnancy and travel · NHS — travelling in pregnancy.
Pregnant and planning a trip?
Book an individual pre-travel assessment at our Timperley clinic, near Manchester. We'll advise on which vaccines are appropriate for you, malaria, and food, water and general safety — serving Manchester, Trafford, Stockport and Cheshire.