OB-GYN Group Issues Maternal Vaccination Schedule, Diverging From CDC

ACOG's new schedule recommends four key vaccines for pregnant individuals: influenza, COVID-19, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Additional vaccines may be recommended for those with specific risk factors. The group stated its intention to provide clear, evidence-based guidance and address the growing circulation of vaccine misinformation.

The divergence from federal guidance, especially concerning the COVID-19 vaccine, has been a point of contention. Health experts have questioned previous decisions to no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children. The organization's decision to issue its own schedule has been endorsed by 13 other professional and medical societies, with some other groups also releasing differing vaccine schedules this year.

Healthcare providers report significant vaccine hesitancy among patients, often fueled by misinformation found online and on social media. Organizations like the American College of Nurse Midwives and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health have noted that patients frequently present research that is not scientifically based.