Vaccinations during pregnancy
You will be offered vaccines during your pregnancy. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way of protecting you and your baby from serious illness.
During pregnancy, your immune system is naturally weaker than usual. This means you are less likely to fight off infections that can be harmful to you and your baby.
Vaccination during pregnancy can help prevent disease or make illness less serious for you, and for your baby. This is because the antibodies (natural substances your body produces to fight infection) are passed to your unborn baby, helping to protect them in their first few weeks of life.
Which vaccines are recommended in pregnancy?
Vaccinations to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu are recommended in pregnancy to help keep you and your baby safe.
Women who are severely immunosuppressed will also be offered the Covid-19 booster, if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Whooping cough (pertussis) - Offered from 16 weeks.
The best time to have the whooping cough vaccine is from 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. You can have it up until your baby is born, but it may be less effective later in pregnancy.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) - Offered from 28 weeks.
The best time to have the RSV vaccine is from 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. You can have it up until your baby is born, but it may be less effective later in pregnancy.
Flu (infleunza virus) - Offered during flu season (which may be at any time during your pregnancy).
You should have the flu vaccine as soon as it is offered to you.
Covid-19 booster for people with a severely weakened immune system - Offered during booster season (which may be at any time during your pregnancy).
The Covid-19 booster is only offered to pregnant women who have a severely weakened immune system, to help reduce your risk of serious illness from Covid-19 infection.
Follow this link for more information about the Covid-19 booster vaccine, and how to get vaccinated.
For more information about these vaccines, speak to your midwife or practice nurse.
To arrange an appointment for your vaccines, follow the links above, contact your GP or speak to your midwife.
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