Vaccinations in pregnancy - October 2022

Background

Pregnant women, especially those in the third trimester, are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, which can cause complications for both mother and baby.

The JCVI has advised that to maximise their protection, pregnant women should get a further vaccine dose ahead of winter when viruses circulate most and can cause the greatest harm.

At the same time, the rates of flu and whooping cough vaccination during pregnancy are also lower than we have seen in previous years. The NHS wants those who are pregnant and their families to have all of the information they need about all three vaccinations they can get during pregnancy, so they can make an informed choice.

Insight from focus groups with pregnant women suggests to us that messages about the COVID-19 vaccine are more effective when they are separate from those about flu and whooping cough.

We have therefore developed three separate scripts for use when generating communications material (web copy, newsletters for the public, videos etc.) and answering questions about the three vaccinations available in pregnancy.

Flu vaccination in pregnancy

When you become pregnant, your immune system weakens which makes it harder to fight off infections. For many years, the NHS has recommended that, if you are pregnant, you get vaccinated against flu to protect you and your baby from a serious illness. If you are eligible, it is important to get it every year because the viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the flu, and the vaccine may be different from last year.

Evidence shows that, if you are pregnant and catch flu, you have a higher chance of developing complications, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia. Getting flu while pregnant could also cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birth weight and may increase the need for admission to intensive care for both you and your baby.

The flu virus spreads easily and with more people mixing indoors and a higher number of flu cases expected this winter, it is really important that you get vaccinated. If you have questions about any of the vaccinations available to you during pregnancy, speak to your midwife, general practice team or pharmacist.

Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy

Whooping cough (pertussis) can be very serious for young babies who are too young to start their routine childhood vaccinations. Babies with whooping cough are often very unwell, and many are likely to need hospital treatment as it can lead to pneumonia and permanent brain damage. If you are pregnant, you can help protect your baby by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16 weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour. The immunity you get from the vaccine passes to your baby through the placenta and protects them until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 8 weeks old.

If you are pregnant, you have been able to get the whooping cough vaccine for 10 years now. Getting vaccinated whilst pregnant is highly effective in protecting your baby from developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life.

If you have questions about any of the vaccinations available to you during pregnancy, speak to your midwife, general practice team or pharmacist.

Covid-19 Vaccination Script

When you become pregnant it gets harder to fight off infections. This means you are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, especially in the third trimester, which could cause complications for both you and your baby.

Studies of those who are pregnant and admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 show there is a higher risk of admission to intensive care, high blood pressure due to pre-eclampsia and premature or stillbirth.

Vaccination remains the best way to protect you and your baby and is recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives.

Recent research shows being vaccinated during pregnancy can also give your baby protection from COVID-19 for six months after they are born, reducing the risk of them needing hospital treatment for severe COVID-19-related illness. You can be vaccinated at any time during pregnancy, and you can now get a further booster dose if it has been three months since your last one.

You can book an appointment online, call 119 or speak to your general practice team, midwife or pharmacist about other ways to get your vaccine.