Vaccination in pregnancy
During pregnancy, your immune system is suppressed to help protect the baby. This can mean you're less able to fight off infections.
Additionally, as the pregnancy develops you may be unable to breathe as deeply as you did before, and respiratory infections can result in a slightly increased risk of complications.
Covid-19 and flu vaccines
- Pregnant women are more likely to get flu and COVID-19 complications than women who are not pregnant. They are also more likely to be admitted to hospital with flu and with COVID-19
- Most pregnant women with COVID-19 who need hospital treatment or intensive care in the UK have not been vaccinated
- If you get COVID-19 or flu late in your pregnancy, your baby could also be at risk of preterm birth and stillbirth
- Having the flu and COVID-19 vaccine means you're less likely to get these infections
- It's safe to have these vaccines during any stage of pregnancy, from the first few weeks up to your expected due date.
Whooping cough
Whooping cough rates have increased over recent years and very young babies are at greatest risk.
- Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated. The immunity you get from the vaccine will pass to your baby through the placenta
- You should ideally have the vaccine between 16 weeks and 32 weeks pregnant
- This vaccine will protect your baby in the early weeks until they are old enough to be vaccinated as part of the routine childhood vaccination programme.