Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) Practice Exam

Which vaccines are recommended for pregnant women?

1. MMR and Varicella

2. Tdap and Flu

3. Hepatitis B and HPV

4. Polio and Yellow Fever

The correct answer is: Tdap and Flu

The recommendation for pregnant women includes the Tdap and influenza vaccines due to their significant benefits in protecting both the mother and the baby. The Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, is particularly important because maternal vaccination during pregnancy helps to pass on antibodies to the baby, offering immediate protection against whooping cough, a disease that can be severe in young infants. This vaccination is usually recommended during the third trimester of every pregnancy. The flu vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women, as they are at higher risk of severe illness from influenza. Vaccination not only reduces the risk of the mother contracting flu but also protects the infant in the first few months of life, a period when they are too young to be vaccinated themselves. Alternative vaccines listed do not provide the same immediate protective benefits to both the mother and the infant in the context of pregnancy. MMR and Varicella are live vaccines, which are generally avoided in pregnancy due to theoretical risks. Hepatitis B vaccination is typically considered outside of the routine pregnancy vaccination schedule, and HPV is not recommended during pregnancy due to limited safety data. Lastly, the Polio and Yellow Fever vaccines are not routinely administered in pregnancy unless the potential exposure conditions necess