Vaccinations in pregnancy

Flu

While flu is a mild illness for most people, it can be very serious for pregnant women.  Pregnant women are more likely to develop serious complications as a result of flu, and rarely even death, compared to women who are not pregnant.  There are also risks for the baby, including miscarriage and premature labour. Receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy is the best way to protect you and your unborn baby from getting serious complication of flu, including death.
Flu leaflet

COVID-19

A guide to COVID-19 vaccination – all women of childbearing age
COVID-19 vaccination information

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection which can affect people of all ages but is particularly serious for babies.  All pregnant women are offered the whooping cough vaccine.  The best time to receive the vaccine is from 16 weeks of pregnancy. If you are in the later stages of pregnancy it is still worth getting the vaccine. If you get the vaccine less than 2 weeks prior to giving birth, antibodies may not have time to develop and passed to your baby in sufficient quantities. However it will still protect you and reduce the risk of you infecting your baby.

Whooping cough leaflet

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

From September 2024, pregnant women can have a free vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common and highly infectious respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older adults. RSV infections often lead to mild cold-like symptoms, but in some cases, especially in infants and individuals with compromised immune systems, it can cause severe respiratory issues and hospitalisation.

Pregnant women are being offered the vaccine during antenatal appointments with their midwife from 28 weeks into their pregnancy. The timing of the vaccine offer will help protect their newborn babies from serious illness caused by an RSV infection.

There will be vaccinations available at antenatal clinics across the Trust. Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccinations are also available for pregnant women at these clinics.

How to protect your baby from RSV | HSC Public Health Agency

Other infections which can affect your pregnancy are:

• Hepatitis C
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (Herpes, Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia)
• Chickenpox
• Toxoplasmosis
• Parovirus B19 (slapped cheek disease)
• Rash in pregnancy
• Group B streptococcus
• Infections transmitted by animals

Please refer to PHA Pregnancy Book for more details or speak to your doctor or midwife.