Kevin Ault, MD, on maternal immunization, following the correct recommendations

“Between the 2009 influenza pandemic, and the covid pandemic, there were numerous publications, and there continue to be publications that say provider recommendation is the most important reason for pregnant people to get vaccinated,” said Kevin Ault, MD, vice president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Western Michigan University Home Stryker MD School of Medicine, and former member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). “If you're a midwife or a family physician or an obstetrician recommending vaccines, your patients really want to hear your opinion and hear what you have to say above all the noise.”

ACOG’s August 2025 guidance updates recommend maternal immunization against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, citing extensive evidence that respiratory infections can cause severe maternal illness and poor pregnancy outcomes, while vaccination is safe and highly protective for both mother and infant. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended at any point during pregnancy, with data showing reduced severe maternal morbidity, preterm birth, and stillbirth, as well as passive immunity for infants after birth. Influenza vaccination is strongly recommended during any trimester, and maternal RSV vaccination is advised between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation during RSV season to protect newborns from severe disease.

RELATED: Pregnancy vaccination FAQs: ACOG guidance on COVID-19, flu, and RSV²

“I think the RSV vaccine is a great thing to talk about, because it's been wildly successful and it's new,” Ault said. “We have two older vaccines that we give, the influenza vaccine and the Tdap recommendation… The RSV vaccine is really only, it’s the second season… and it's been very successful.”

Ault emphasized that protecting newborns is often a compelling motivator for expectant parents. “My personal experience would say that pregnant people really value protecting their newborns,” he said. “Whether it's the monoclonal antibodies or the maternal vaccine, people really value protecting their infants from RSV.”

He also noted that RSV is common and familiar to many families. “Two to 3% of children every six months will be hospitalized this time of year,” Ault said. “It's not hard to find a parent who has had that experience with an older child or a nephew or a niece.”

ACOG states that all three maternal vaccines—COVID-19, influenza, and RSV—may be administered at the same time. In the setting of misinformation, Ault said clinicians must stay informed and rely on evidence-based guidance. “That kind of goes back to the providers to know their data, know the recommendation,” he said. “Fortunately for us, ACOG has updated all its recommendations at the beginning of respiratory season.”

Reference:

1. ACOG Releases Updated Maternal Immunization Guidance for COVID-19, Influenza, and RSV. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. News release. Published August 22, 2025. Accessed February 3, 2026. https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/08/acog-releases-updated-maternal-immunization-guidance-covid-influenza-rsv
2. Fitch J. Pregnancy vaccination FAQs: ACOG guidance on COVID-19, flu, and RSV. Contemporary OB/GYN. Published February 3, 2026. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/pregnancy-vaccination-faqs-acog-guidance-on-covid-19-flu-and-rsv