A patient who works as a nurse in the surgery intensive care unit at a local community hospital comes to see you for her annual gynecologic exam. She tells you that she plans to go off her oral contraceptives because she plans to attempt pregnancy in the next few months. This patient has many questions regarding updating her immunizations and whether or not she can do this when pregnant. All of the following statements are true regarding immunizations and pregnancy except
High-Yield Explanation
Immunizations in pregnancy with toxoids (tetanus) or killed bacteria or viruses (influenza, hepatitis B) have not been associated with fetal anomalies or adverse outcomes. The varicella, rubella, measles, mumps, and polio vaccines consist of attenuated live viruses and should not be administered during pregnancy because of a theoretic risk to the fetus. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that women wait 3 months to conceive after receiving immunization with a live attenuated virus, and that all women receive the influenza vaccine after the first trimester of pregnancy.