Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Which two vaccines are commonly offered to pregnant women?

1. Flu and mumps

2. Measles and pertussis

3. Flu and pertussis

4. COVID-19 and pertussis

The correct answer is: Flu and pertussis

The correct response highlights two vaccines that are widely recommended for pregnant women: the flu vaccine and the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine. The flu vaccine is important during pregnancy because pregnant women are at higher risk for severe illness from influenza. Getting vaccinated helps protect both the mother and the baby. The antibodies that the mother forms in response to the flu vaccine can also be passed on to the infant, providing some protection during the first few months of life when there is a heightened risk of influenza. The pertussis vaccine, typically administered as part of the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine, is recommended during each pregnancy, preferably between 27 and 36 weeks. This vaccination helps to provide protection for the newborn from pertussis, as infants are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from the disease. The presence of maternal antibodies, stimulated by the vaccination, can significantly reduce the risk of the infant contracting pertussis in the early months of life. While other vaccines like the measles and mumps vaccines, and the COVID-19 vaccine, may also be considered in certain scenarios, the most straightforward and common recommendations during pregnancy focus on the flu and pertussis vaccines to ensure the