Pregnant women are being urged to get the flu and whooping cough vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing a warning that women are putting themselves and their infants at risk for severe illness and possibly death. The CDC reports 65% of women do not receive both recommended vaccines.

The CDC recommends all expectant mothers get the flu vaccine as early as possible and the Tdap vaccine for whooping cough during the early part of the third trimester. Dr. Samuel Fox, an OB GYN with OSF HealthCare says he often finds himself battling misinformation and he says his young, healthy patients feel invincible.

Dr. Fox also warns patients to see him immediately if they develop flu-like symptoms or have been exposed to someone sick with the flu. He says pregnant women have lower immunity and they’re twice as likely to be hospitalized for the flu that non-pregnant women of child-bearing age. Infants who become infected with flu or whooping cough are at a high risk of hospitalization or death.