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Read the video transcript – Immunisation in pregnancy.
Influenza (flu) vaccine
During pregnancy, you are at much higher risk of respiratory complications if you catch influenza than other healthy adults.
Influenza vaccination not only protects you, but may also protect your baby for their first 6 months of life when they are at high risk of serious complications if they catch the virus and are too young to get vaccinated themselves.
The influenza vaccine is free for pregnant women and recommended during any stage of pregnancy. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is advised to get the influenza vaccine as soon as it is available.
For ongoing protection, your baby will need to get the vaccine as they get older. Babies can get a free influenza vaccine from 6 months of age. Learn more about the influenza vaccine for children.
Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
Outbreaks of whooping cough occur every 3 to 4 years in Australia.
Young babies are the most vulnerable; if they catch whooping cough they are at risk of serious complications, and can even die. Parents are a common source of whooping cough infection for babies and around 80% of babies with whooping cough get the infection from a parent or sibling.
As a mum, you are the most important person to be vaccinated to protect yourself and your baby. It is recommended that pregnant women receive the whooping cough vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy (between 28 and 32 weeks). However, the vaccine can be given at any time during the third trimester up to delivery. The whooping cough vaccine is free for pregnant women and is delivered in one injection with diphtheria and tetanus (dTpa). Vaccination during pregnancy has shown to be more effective in reducing the risk of whooping cough in young infants than vaccinating the mother after the birth. Read more about the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy.
It's also important for people, such as grandparents and siblings, who will be in close contact with your baby under 6 months of age to be immunised against whooping cough. Close adult contacts who haven't had a whooping cough vaccine in the past 10 years should receive a booster dose and siblings should be up-to-date with their childhood immunisations.
Babies under 6 weeks cannot get the whooping cough vaccine because their immune system is not developed enough. Babies receive their first whooping cough vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks.
Hepatitis B vaccine
If you have hepatitis B while pregnant, you can pass it to your baby during childbirth.
When you are pregnant, your doctor will offer you a simple blood test at your first visit to confirm whether you are protected against hepatitis B, so appropriate steps can be taken to protect your baby from the virus after birth.
It is recommended that all newborn babies receive their first dose of a primary course of HepB vaccine in the first 7 days of birth/before leaving the hospital.
COVID-19 vaccine
Although COVID-19 vaccine is not routinely recommended in pregnancy, you and your treating health professional may consider vaccination if the potential benefits outweigh any potential risks.
You should consider having a COVID-19 vaccine during your pregnancy if:
- you have medical risk factors for severe COVID-19
AND
- you are at high risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
You may wish to wait until after your pregnancy to be vaccinated if:
- you have no risk factors for severe COVID-19
OR
- you are not at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.
For more information go to the COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding (external site).
Read more about the COVID-19 vaccine.