A pregnant patient asks about MMR vaccine safety. What is the correct stance?

• A. MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy; avoid vaccination and plan postpartum if needed
• B. MMR vaccine is contraindicated during pregnancy and should never be considered postpartum
• C. MMR vaccine is safe to administer during pregnancy
• D. MMR vaccine should be given postpartum if not previously vaccinated

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that MMR is a live attenuated vaccine and is not given during pregnancy. Live vaccines carry a theoretical risk to the developing fetus, so vaccination is deferred until after delivery. The correct approach is to avoid MMR during pregnancy and plan postpartum vaccination if the patient is not immune. This protects the mother and future pregnancies from measles, mumps, and rubella while ensuring immunity is established after birth. Postpartum vaccination is commonly done before discharge or at a postpartum visit, with counseling to avoid pregnancy for about a month after vaccination.