Immunisation in pregnancy

Visit your immunisation provider to check if your immunisations are up-to-date while planning your pregnancy. You can also access your own immunisation record, read more about the Australian Immunisation Register.

It usually takes around 2 weeks after vaccination to develop protective antibodies.

This will give you time to catch up on missed vaccines and ensure you are protected against the following vaccine-preventable diseases.

Influenza (flu) vaccine

When planning a pregnancy, you should get the seasonal influenza vaccine if available and if not already received as otherwise you may not be protected against the influenza disease.

COVID-19 vaccine

Pregnant women are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination and are encouraged to discuss the decision in relation to timing of vaccination with their health professional. Women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to delay vaccination or avoid becoming pregnant after COVID-19 vaccination.

Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness if they are infected with COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women with COVID-19. There is also an increased risk of complications for the baby during pregnancy.

This includes an increased risk of:

• hospitalisation
• admission to an intensive care unit
• invasive ventilation
• stillbirth
• premature birth.

For more information read the Joint statement between RANZCOG and ATAGI about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women (external site) (external site) and the COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy (external site).

Rubella and measles vaccine

Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects.

Measles is a highly infectious disease and can have serious complications for pregnant women and their babies.

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

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

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

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.

Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine

Whooping cough remains prevalent in Australia and can be a serious and life-threatening disease in babies.

Babies can receive their first whooping cough vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks.

Therefore, everyone in the same household and others caring for the baby in the first few weeks of life should get the whooping cough vaccine to prevent them from getting whooping cough and passing it on to the baby before they can be protected by the vaccine themselves.

It's also important to make sure siblings are up-to-date with their childhood immunisations.

Watch more videos on the WA Health YouTube channel (external site).

Read the video transcript – Immunisation in pregnancy.

Influenza (flu) vaccine

If you received the influenza vaccine before becoming pregnant, speak with your immunisation provider to plan according to your needs as you may need to get revaccinated during pregnancy to protect your unborn child.

During pregnancy, you are at much higher risk of respiratory complications if you catch influenza than other healthy adults.

Influenza vaccination protects you and 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.

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.

Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for everyone in the same household and other people caring for your baby.

Learn more about the influenza vaccine for children.

COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 is now circulating within the WA community. The best way to reduce your risk is to get vaccinated.

It is safe to receive the recommended COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy.

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.

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. Around 80% of babies with whooping cough get the infection from a parent or sibling.

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, 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 of age cannot get the whooping cough vaccine because their immune system is not developed enough. Babies should receive their first whooping cough vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks.

Hepatitis B vaccine

If you have hepatitis B (hep 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 hep B vaccine in the first 7 days of birth/before leaving the hospital.

COVID-19

If you are breastfeeding you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You do not need to stop breastfeeding before or after vaccination.

For more information go to the COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding (external site).

Childhood immunisations

During the first few years of your child’s life they 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.

The WA childhood immunisation schedule is carefully planned to protect babies and children when they need it most.

View the childhood immunisation schedule.