Expecting Mom Faces Vaccine Resistance from Family

Advice columnist Abby offers guidance on navigating vaccine requirements to protect newborn.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A pregnant woman writes to advice columnist Abby about her family members refusing to get recommended vaccines before visiting her newborn baby. The woman's doctor advises anyone visiting the baby in the first three months get up-to-date on Tdap, flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines, but some family members are resistant. The woman is already stressed about the situation and does not want to argue with her family, who have not responded well to her setting boundaries in the past.

Why it matters

Newborns are especially vulnerable to serious illnesses, which is why pediatricians recommend visitors be vaccinated. This case highlights the tensions that can arise when families have differing views on vaccine requirements, potentially putting a newborn's health at risk.

The details

The pregnant woman says her doctor is recommending anyone visiting the baby in the first three months get vaccinated for Tdap, flu, COVID, and RSV (if over 60). However, some family members, including a 3-year-old niece, are resistant to getting the vaccines and want to do testing and masking instead, which the woman says is not as safe. The woman has set boundaries with her family in the past, but they have not been well-received.

  • The woman is having the baby in five months.
  • The doctor's vaccine recommendations are for the first three months after the baby is born.

The players

The Expecting Mother

A pregnant woman who is following her doctor's recommendations for visitors to be vaccinated before seeing her newborn baby.

The Family Members

Some of the woman's family members who are resistant to getting the recommended vaccines before visiting the newborn.

The 3-Year-Old Niece

The woman's young niece who would have difficulty with testing and masking requirements instead of vaccination.

The Doctor

The woman's doctor who is recommending visitors be up-to-date on Tdap, flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines before visiting the newborn.

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What they’re saying

“We have decided to follow our doctor's recommendations.”

— The Expecting Mother (dnyuz.com)

“Some of my family members are resistant to getting these vaccines and want us to consider other options, like testing and wearing a mask, which is not as safe.”

— The Expecting Mother (dnyuz.com)

“I am already stressed about this situation and do not want to talk it to death with my family, and I have grown resentful because of it.”

— The Expecting Mother (dnyuz.com)

What’s next

The advice columnist Abby suggests the woman follow her doctor's medical advice to protect her child, and if family members don't want to respect her wishes, she can keep her distance for the first three months.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tensions that can arise when families have differing views on vaccine requirements for newborns, which can put a baby's health at risk. The expecting mother must balance her doctor's recommendations with her family's resistance, underscoring the difficult decisions new parents sometimes face to safeguard their child's wellbeing.