During Pregnancy, your immune system is naturally weakened to protect your pregnancy. This means you are less able to fight off infections. Because of this we recommend particular vaccines throughout pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby. These vaccines do not contain the live virus, so are safe to have in pregnancy.

It is recommended that you have the following vaccinations.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

We recommend that you have the Whooping Cough vaccination from 16 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. This can be booked with your GP surgery.

Whooping Cough is a very serious infection, and young babies are most at risk. Most babies with Whooping Cough will be admitted to hospital.

When you have the Whooping Cough vaccination in pregnancy, your body produces antibodies to protect against Whooping Cough. These antibodies pass to your baby and this offers them some protection until they are old enough to have their Whooping Cough vaccination at eight weeks old. It’s important that you have this vaccination in each pregnancy, even if you have been vaccinated before.

If you have any questions, please as your midwife.

Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines are recommended in pregnancy. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy for both women and babies, including admission of the woman to intensive care and premature birth of the baby.

There is no need to stop breastfeeding in order to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Women trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination and there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Great Western Hospital (gwh.nhs.uk)

COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding FAQs | RCOG

COVID-19 vaccination: women who are pregnant or breastfeeding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide on pregnancy and breastfeeding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Flu Vaccination

The vaccination is available from Late September through to March and is free whilst you are pregnant. The Flu vaccination can be given at any stage of pregnancy.

We offer a drop-in clinic in the Antenatal Clinic on the 2nd floor of the Great Western Hospital. This service is available Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm (subject to staff and vaccination availability).

Vaccinations can be done whilst you attend for your scan, DAU or hospital appointment but if you are making a specific journey to the hospital for a vaccination, please call our vaccination team on 01793 696734 to check availability.

Our vaccination midwives are on hand to answer any questions you may have.

The flu jab in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Vaccinations in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Pregnancy: how to help protect you and your baby - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)