Grandparents planning to spend time around a newborn should be up to date on four key vaccines: Tdap (whooping cough), influenza, COVID-19, and RSV. The most important step is getting vaccinated at least two weeks before meeting the baby, since that’s how long your body needs to build protective antibodies.
Newborns don’t have fully developed immune systems, and they can’t receive most of their own vaccines until they’re two months old. That gap leaves them vulnerable, which is why vaccinating the adults around them matters so much. This approach, sometimes called “cocooning,” creates a buffer of protected people around the baby during its most fragile weeks.
Whooping Cough (Tdap): The Top Priority
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is the single biggest reason grandparents are asked to get vaccinated before a baby arrives. The illness can be serious for anyone, but it’s most dangerous for infants. Babies don’t start their own whooping cough vaccine series until two months of age, so every adult who will be close to the baby needs to have this covered.
The CDC recommends that all adults who have never received a Tdap shot get one, regardless of when they last had a tetanus booster. If you have received Tdap in the past, you need a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria. If you’re unsure whether you’ve ever had Tdap specifically, it’s safe to get another dose. The key point: get it at least two weeks before you’ll be around the baby.
Annual Flu Shot
Influenza is another infection that can hit a newborn hard. The same two-week rule applies here. Get your flu shot at least 14 days before your first visit so your body has time to build immunity.
If you’re 65 or older, the CDC prefers you receive one of the enhanced flu vaccines designed for seniors. These formulations produce a stronger immune response, which matters both for your own protection and for reducing the chance you’ll carry the virus to a baby. Your pharmacist or doctor will know which versions are available. One dose per season is all that’s needed.
COVID-19 Vaccine
The CDC recommends staying current with COVID-19 vaccination, and it’s especially important for adults 65 and older and for people who are at high risk of severe illness. The guidance also specifically notes the importance of vaccination when you have a family or household member at high risk, which includes a newborn with an immature immune system.
COVID-19 vaccines are updated periodically to match circulating strains, so check whether you’re due for the most recent dose. Like the other vaccines on this list, getting it at least two weeks before meeting the baby gives your immune system time to respond.
RSV Vaccine
Respiratory syncytial virus causes cold-like symptoms in most adults but can lead to serious breathing problems in very young infants. The CDC now recommends RSV vaccination for all adults 75 and older, and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness. Three vaccines are currently licensed for adults 50 and older.
RSV vaccination is not an annual shot. If you’ve already received one dose, you’re considered fully vaccinated and don’t need another. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you can get the shot at any time of year, though it offers the most benefit when given in late summer or early fall before RSV season peaks. While the primary goal of the adult RSV vaccine is to protect you from severe illness and hospitalization, keeping yourself healthy also reduces the chance of exposing a vulnerable baby.
MMR: Check Your Records
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) isn’t typically framed as a “before baby” vaccine, but it’s worth confirming you’re covered. Adults who don’t have evidence of immunity should have at least one dose of MMR. Acceptable proof includes written vaccination records, a blood test showing immunity, lab-confirmed past infection, or being born before 1957 (which generally means you were exposed to these diseases naturally).
If you can’t find your records and aren’t sure of your status, getting a dose of MMR is safe even if you’re already immune. With measles outbreaks occurring periodically, this is a simple precaution worth taking, especially if you’ll be spending time in crowded places like airports before visiting a grandchild.
Timing It Right
The two-week window is the number to remember. Vaccines don’t work instantly. Your immune system needs roughly 14 days after a shot to produce enough antibodies to protect you, and by extension, the baby. If the due date is approaching and you haven’t been vaccinated yet, get your shots as soon as possible rather than waiting for the “perfect” moment.
You can safely receive multiple vaccines in a single visit. It’s common to get a flu shot and Tdap at the same appointment, for example, and your pharmacist or doctor can help you schedule everything efficiently. If you’re also due for RSV or COVID-19 vaccines, ask whether it makes sense to space them out or bundle them together based on your health history.
Parents may ask you about your vaccine status directly, and it’s increasingly common for expecting families to set vaccination expectations for anyone who will have close contact with the baby. Taking care of it early, ideally a month or more before the due date, avoids last-minute stress and ensures you’re fully protected by the time you hold your grandchild for the first time.