Vaccines During Pregnancy: Protecting You and Your Baby

7-minute read.

Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• Why Vaccination in Pregnancy Matters
• Vaccines Commonly Recommended During Pregnancy
  • Influenza (Flu)
  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Are These Vaccines Safe?
• Possible Side Effects
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Glossary
• Final Thoughts
• Resources

Key Takeaways

• • Three vaccines are routinely recommended during pregnancy in Australia: influenza (flu), whooping cough and RSV.
  • These vaccines help protect not only you during pregnancy but also your baby in their first vulnerable months after birth.
  • Vaccination in pregnancy passes protective antibodies to your baby before they are born, protecting them during their most vulnerable early months.
  • The vaccines recommended during pregnancy have been studied extensively and are considered safe for both mother and baby.
  • Most women experience only mild side effects, if any at all, such as a sore arm or tiredness for a day or two.

Why Vaccination in Pregnancy Matters

Vaccination during pregnancy is not only about protecting you, it can also help protect your baby during their earliest and most vulnerable months of life. When you receive a vaccine during pregnancy, your body produces protective antibodies. Some of these antibodies can pass through the placenta to your baby before birth, helping provide early protection in the weeks and months before they are old enough to receive many vaccines themselves. This is particularly important for infections such as whooping cough and RSV, which can become serious very quickly in newborn babies.

Vaccines Commonly Recommended During Pregnancy

Influenza (Flu)

During pregnancy, even infections that would normally feel manageable can affect the body differently. This is one of the reasons the flu vaccine is recommended during pregnancy each year. Vaccination helps protect you during pregnancy, while also passing protective antibodies to your baby before birth. This can help provide some early protection during those first few months of life, before babies are old enough to receive their own flu vaccine. Because the flu changes from season to season, vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Whooping cough is one of the infections we are particularly mindful of during pregnancy because newborn babies are especially vulnerable in those early weeks of life. While older children and adults will often recover, very young babies can become seriously unwell before they are old enough to receive their own vaccinations. Receiving the vaccine during pregnancy helps pass protective antibodies to your baby before birth, helping protect them during those first newborn months. The vaccine is recommended between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, when antibody transfer is most effective. Because this protection fades over time, vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a very common virus and, for most older children and adults, it often feels similar to a cold. In newborn babies however, RSV can sometimes lead to more serious breathing difficulties and chest infections, particularly during the first few months of life. Vaccination during pregnancy helps pass protective antibodies to your baby before birth, providing some early protection during this vulnerable newborn period. In Australia, the RSV vaccine currently approved for use during pregnancy is Abrysvo®, which is recommended between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Are These Vaccines Safe?

Questions around safety are completely understandable during pregnancy, particularly when it comes to anything that may affect your baby. The vaccines routinely recommended during pregnancy have been studied extensively and are considered safe for both mother and baby. They are recommended because they help protect against infections that can become more serious during pregnancy and in early newborn life. In Australia, all vaccines are carefully reviewed and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) before they become publicly available. It is also safe to receive the recommended maternal vaccines at the same time if needed, and they can be given alongside COVID-19 vaccines where appropriate.

Possible Side Effects

Most women experience only mild side effects after vaccination, if any at all, and these usually settle within a day or two. Common reactions can include a sore arm, redness or swelling around the injection site, tiredness, mild muscle aches or occasionally a low-grade fever. These symptoms are a normal sign that your body is responding to the vaccine. More serious reactions are uncommon. If you experience anything that feels severe, unusual or concerning after vaccination, it’s important to seek medical advice promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions