Immunisation in pregnancy

Visit your GP to check if your immunisations are up-to-date while planning your pregnancy to give you time to catch up on missed vaccines and ensure you are protected against the following vaccine-preventable diseases.

Rubella

Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

For best protection you should have two doses of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella) before you become pregnant.

Rubella vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, therefore it is advised that you have this vaccine at least one month before falling pregnant.

Chickenpox (varicella)

Chickenpox can be more severe in adults and if you are infected during the early stages of pregnancy or at time of delivery, it can cause birth defects or severe infection in your baby.

Chickenpox vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy, therefore it is advised that you have this vaccine at least one month before falling pregnant.

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Pertussis remains prevalent in Australia and can be a serious and life threatening disease in babies.

Babies receive their first DTPa vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks-of-age.

Therefore, adults caring for the baby in the first few months of life should be vaccinated against pertussis to prevent transmission to the baby before they can be protected by the vaccine themselves.

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Read the video transcript – Immunisation in pregnancy.

Hepatitis B

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.

It’s recommended that you receive the following immunisations while you are pregnant:

Influenza (flu)

During pregnancy, you are at much higher risk of respiratory complications if you catch the flu 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 too young to receive the vaccine themselves and when they are at high risk of serious complications if they catch the virus.

This vaccine is recommended during any stage of pregnancy.

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Outbreaks of pertussis 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.

It is very important for all adults who will be caring for babies under 6 months of age to be fully immunised against pertussis.

You can be immunised against pertussis in the third trimester of your pregnancy.

These vaccines protect you and your newborn baby against these diseases in the first few months of life.

The whooping cough vaccine is free for all pregnant women.

If I am immunised while pregnant will my baby be protected?

You can pass on some immunity to some diseases such as flu to your baby while you are pregnant.

This immunity may protect your baby for the first 6 months of life. For ongoing protection, your baby will need to receive the vaccine themselves as they get older.

During the first few years of your child’s life he or she will need a number of immunisations to offer protection against the most serious childhood infections.

Following the recommended hepatitis B vaccine (within 7 days of birth), your child is due for their next vaccines at 6-8 weeks of age.

View the childhood immunisation schedule.