Vaccinations in pregnancy

Whooping cough

Whooping cough is a very infectious illness that can be very serious for young babies. Getting vaccinated while you’re pregnant is a safe way to protect your baby. For new-borns and young babies Whooping Cough can lead to pneumonia and brain damage, and in the worst cases, it can lead to the baby dying. Around 300 babies are admitted to hospital every year with whooping cough.

If you get vaccinated while you’re pregnant, your body produces antibodies which are passed through the placenta to your baby, providing some protection against whooping cough when they’re born.

The best time to get vaccinated is from 16 weeks of pregnancy up to 32 weeks. Being vaccinated after 32 weeks can still help, though it won’t be as effective in protecting your baby.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause breathing problems in babies. Most children get RSV by the time they are two years old, but some babies can get very sick from it. RSV can cause bronchiolitis, which is when the small airways in the lungs get inflamed and blocked.

The RSV vaccine passes on antibodies to the baby through the placenta, which help fight off the virus. This way, the baby is protected from RSV for the first 6 months of life, when they are most vulnerable. The vaccine is safe and effective, and it is free for all pregnant women. It does not affect your other routine vaccinations or tests during pregnancy. You only need one dose of the vaccine in each pregnancy.

The best time to get vaccinated is from 28-34 weeks of pregnancy. Being vaccinated after 34 weeks can still help, though it won’t be as effective in protecting your baby.

Flu

Flu in pregnancy can have serious consequences for you and your baby. Having flu while pregnant can lead to problems such as pneumonia and it can even be fatal for a small number of women. Flu in pregnancy can also lead to miscarriage or premature birth, and it has been linked to having a low-weight baby or stillbirth.

This is a seasonal vaccination that can be administered at any point in your pregnancy and is available throughout the winter months. The Flu Jab is safe in pregnancy and dramatically cuts the chance you’ll get Flu.

Covid vaccination

The risks of Covid-19 in pregnancy are difficult to determine accurately. Emerging data shows an increased risk of hospitalisation and oxygen requirements for pregnant women contracting Covid-19 in the second and third trimester of pregnancy (1).

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation confirms that although the available data do not indicate any safety concerns or harm to pregnancy, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy (2).

However, if you have any of the following clinical conditions you would be considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable and the options of vaccination during pregnancy should be discussed with your midwife and a consultant

The clinical conditions currently listed are:

• Solid organ transplant recipients
• Those with severe respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis and severe asthma
• Those who have homozygous sickle cell disease
• Those receiving immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
• Those receiving dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
• Those with significant congenital or acquired heart disease

Additionally, if you are a frontline health or social care worker, including carers in a residential home, you should discuss the option of vaccination. This is because the risk of exposure to COVID-19 may be higher.

If you are unsure about being at risk, please discuss with your Midwife who will discuss with a consultant and arrange an appointment for you with the consultant to discuss options.

Further information about the Covid vaccine in pregnancy.

Vaccination appointments

Vaccination appointments are offered as pre-book or walk-in and take place at the locations between 08:30am-4pm

Contact Details

If you have any questions about the vaccinations, please speak to your midwife or contact us via stmarys.vaccinations@mft.nhs.uk or the vaccination booking line on 0161 701 1323