Having jabs during pregnancy

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy against four common respiratory illnesses can help protect both you and your baby from complications.

Having flu while pregnant can be serious, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your baby. 

Having the flu jab during pregnancy is recommended by the NHS  as an effective way of protecting yourself and your baby from catching the flu. Being vaccinated against the flu while you're pregnant means your immunity will be passed on to your baby and will help protect them for the first few months of his or her life.

Whooping cough is a very infectious illness that can be serious for young babies. Whooping cough can cause long bursts of coughing and choking making it hard to breathe. 

Getting vaccinated while you're pregnant is a safe way to protect your baby. Babies cannot be vaccinated until they are 8 weeks or older. But if you get vaccinated while you're pregnant, your body produces antibodies to whooping cough which are passed through the placenta to your baby. Your baby then has some protection against whooping cough when they're born. The best time to get vaccinated is from 16 weeks of pregnancy up to 32 weeks. But it can still help to get vaccinated after 32 weeks up until your labour, though it won't be as effective in protecting your baby.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy is also recommended to help protect you and your baby. The Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have released a joint statement to reassure women and families that one of the best ways to protect themselves and their baby from COVID-19 is through vaccination. You can read their guidance here.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be very serious for babies, especially those born very premature, or with lower immunity. Getting vaccinated for RSV during pregnancy means that the protection you get from the vaccine passes through the placenta and to your baby. 

 

 Cut your chances of getting these four respiratory viruses by:

  • Speaking to your GP to arrange these vaccinations. You can safely have them during pregnancy, but speak with your GP about when is the best time to have them as some vaccines work better when had during specific times during pregnancy. 
This short film about immunisations during pregnancy was produced for Our Chance, a campaign by the charities Sands and Best Beginnings to raise awareness of health issues in pregnancy (it covers whooping cough as well as flu)
More information

Public Health England has information about having the flu and whooping cough jabs during pregnancy that talks about safety and benefits for women and babies

The NHS provide useful information about RSV and when is the best time during pregnancy to have the vaccine. 

Reliable, evidence-based advice and information for pregnant women on COVID-19 in pregnancy can be found at the RCOG and RCM websites. Their advice covers:

NHS England has general information about COVID-19

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Infections in pregnancy