Vaccinations during pregnancy
During pregnancy, some vaccines are offered to protect against diseases and their complications.
These vaccines are developed to help protect against serious illness to you whilst pregnant, your unborn or new baby.
Receiving these vaccines is safe and the best way to protect both mother and baby during this important time.
Vaccinations during pregnancy
While you are pregnant, your immune system becomes weakened which can make you more prone to get serious illness.
Vaccines help our bodies fight off infections by getting our immune system to produce protective antibodies. This protection is then passed on to babies through the placenta or in breast milk.
This is important as babies don’t start to receive their first vaccinations until 8 weeks of age, so this can help protect them until they do, and their vaccinations start producing their own protective immune responses.
You can speak to a trusted healthcare professional and find out everything you need to know about the vaccines available to you when you become pregnant.
To book your vaccination, contact your GP practice or midwife.
The flu vaccine and pregnancy
It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're at.
Having a flu jab is crucial for the wellbeing of both you and your baby. There’s substantial evidence which indicates that pregnant women face a higher risk of complications from the flu, especially in the later stages of pregnancy.
Pregnancy alters the body’s response to infections like the flu, increasing the likelihood of some pregnant women and their babies requiring treatment intensive care.
Among the common complications are bronchitis, a potentially serious chest infection that can progress to pneumonia.
If you contract the flu during pregnancy, it may lead to premature birth, low birth weight, or, tragically, stillbirth or infant death.
The flu vaccine is free for pregnant women.
For further information on flu vaccination, including a series of FAQs, see our dedicated flu vaccination page.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) spreads very easily causing coughs, sneezes and runny noses.
For most people, it might make them feel unwell but for some people, such as older people and very young babies, it can make them very poorly.
It is a major cause of hospital admission for infants.
Vaccination is recommended in every pregnancy because the protection is passed to your baby before they are even born, meaning they are less likely to get severe RSV for the first 6 months of their life.
Getting vaccinated as soon as possible from 28 weeks will provide the best protection for your baby, but you can have it any time until your due date.
More information on the RSV vaccine is available on the NHS website
Whooping cough vaccine
Whooping cough (pertussis) rates have risen recently.
Babies too young for vaccinations are especially vulnerable, often becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalisation.
Pregnant women can safeguard their babies by getting vaccinated between 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. If missed, the vaccine can still be given until you go into labour.
The best time for this vaccination is between 16 to 32 weeks, enhancing the likelihood of passing protective antibodies to baby before birth.
More information on the whooping cough vaccine is available on the NHS website