Travel vaccinations for pregnant women and women actively attempting to become pregnant

Infectious diseases are a potential source of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Prior to international travels, pregnant women and women actively attempting to become pregnant should seek specific counselling regarding necessary travel immunizations. This is especially important if their travel destination is a country with areas endemic for malaria, yellow fever, tuberculosis, hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus-associated diseases, leishmaniosis, toxoplasmosis, filariosis, Japanese encephalitis, rubella, typhus, leptospirosis, Dengue fever, Helicobacter pylori gastritis, and trypanosomiasis. Toxoid vaccinations, inactivated vaccinations, and immunoglobulins may be administered during pregnancy, whereas live vaccinations are contraindicated. Recommended vaccinations during pregnancy are tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis in case of an insufficient immunization status, as well as the seasonal influenza vaccination. Specific travel vaccinations include all standard vaccinations. In addition, hepatitis A, yellow fever, and polio in certain countries with endemic areas according to World Health Organization (WHO) specifications are recommended. Some countries may have additional vaccination regulations regarding cholera and meningococcus. Vaccinations “per indication” are required if the travel destination is an area with specific locally increased risks for typhoid, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, influenza A/H5N1, Japanese encephalitis, cholera, or yellow fever. There is no effective vaccination against the zika virus. Thus, pregnant women and women actively attempting to become pregnant should refrain from travelling to countries endemic for zika virus. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.