Vaccinations During Pregnancy

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Vaccinations

During your first appointment, your midwife will discuss the vaccinations that will be offered to you throughout your pregnancy.

Please contact your midwife or use the following links for further information.

Covid-19 Vaccine

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is strongly recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives. The COVID-19 vaccines available in the UK are the safest and most effective way to protect you and your baby.

The risks from COVID-19 for pregnant women and their unborn babies and how easy it is to get infected have changed with different strains of COVID-19. We cannot predict which new strains will emerge, so it is important to ensure you are well protected if you are pregnant. There is evidence that vaccination in pregnancy may help prevent COVID-19 hospital admissions of babies in the first six months of life. This is because immunity in the mother can be passed on to the baby in the womb and this offers short-term protection after birth.
Unvaccinated women who become pregnant are strongly encouraged to have their first two doses of the vaccine. Women who are pregnant and have previously been vaccinated should have a booster dose in the autumn.  As winter approaches we spend more time indoors, often in warm rooms with less fresh air, making it easier for viruses to spread.

RSV/Bronchiolitis vaccine

The RSV (bronchiolitis) vaccine is being introduced across the UK from 1 September 2024 for all pregnant women (and for people aged 75 years and over). RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms during the winter months. Babies under one year of age and older adults are at the greatest risk of being admitted into hospital if they catch the virus as it makes them very unwell. They often need help with their breathing.

All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant will be offered the RSV vaccine. You will receive one injection. The vaccine will travel through your blood, cross into the placenta and into your baby’s body to help protect them from birth until they are about six months old. It is recommended to get the vaccine as soon as you can after 28 weeks as it can take a number of days to reach your baby’s body. If, for some reason your baby is born early, they will still be protected.

You will need to receive the vaccination every time you are pregnant as the vaccine is for the baby’s protection only and will not stay in your system.
Find out more about the RSV vaccination using the links below

Other Vaccines Offered in Pregnancy

Vaccines to protect you and your baby against flu and to protect your baby against whooping cough (pertussis) from birth are also recommended in pregnancy. These different vaccines can be safely given together or may be given separately and will still provide protection.

Autumn Booster

Your flu and COVID-19 vaccines may be given together as they are given at the same time of year at any stage of pregnancy.

It is important to have the whooping cough vaccine after you have reached 16 weeks of pregnancy to make sure your baby has high enough levels of protection when they are born. This vaccine is usually given after your scan at 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, so you may have this vaccine at a different appointment, depending on when you become pregnant.

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