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Vaccinations and pregnancy

Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting you against harmful diseases, before you come into contact with them.

When you are vaccinated, your immune system responds by:

  • recognising the virus or bacteria in the vaccine as a potential threat, in the same way it would if you were exposed to the actual disease.
  • producing antibodies, these are proteins which help your body fight the infection.
  • remembering the virus or bacteria so if you are exposed to it again in the future your immune system can destroy it before you become unwell.

However, vaccines can be made in several different ways. The way in which a vaccine is made will determine how appropriate it is during pregnancy. Please read the information below as this will help you to make an informed decision. If you have any questions, please discuss them with your midwife or GP.

Vaccinations recommended during pregnancy

Some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby. Your midwife will have discussed the recommended vaccines with you during your booking appointment. These vaccinations include the whooping cough, RSV and flu vaccines. You may also be offered the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccinations that are not recommended in pregnancy

Some vaccines are made from a weak (or attenuated) form of the virus or bacteria that causes the disease. These vaccines are so similar to the natural infection that they help prevent, they create a strong and long-lasting immune response, however, if the vaccine has been made from a live but weakened (or attenuated) version of the virus, you will usually be advised to wait until after your baby has been born before you have the vaccine. This is because there is a potential risk that having a live vaccine could cause your unborn baby to develop the infection.

Live vaccines include:

  • BCG (vaccination against tuberculosis)
  • MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)
  • oral polio (which forms part of the 5-in-1 vaccine given to babies)
  • oral typhoid
  • yellow fever

These vaccines are often recommended when you are travelling abroad.

It is better to avoid visiting countries or areas where you will need to have live vaccinations before you travel. If this is not possible, talk to your midwife, GP or a travel nurse. They can give you more advice about specific vaccinations during pregnancy and explain any risks and benefits. Sometimes, a live vaccine may be used during pregnancy if the risk of infection is greater than the risk of the vaccination.

The vaccination service

Princess Anne Hospital runs a vaccination clinic in the outpatients department on E level. If you are coming to the outpatients department for your anomaly scan, the vaccination team will aim to book your flu and whooping cough vaccination appointments, so they are on the same day as your scan. Your midwife may have requested these appointments as part of your booking appointment. If not, you can contact the midwifery vaccination team, for advice or to book an appointment.

If you would like to have your RSV vaccine in the vaccination clinic at the Princess Anne Hospital, please contact the clinic to make an appointment or drop-in anytime between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Otherwise please arrange to have your vaccine at your GP surgery.

Contact the clinic by:

Useful links and recommended reading

NHS: Vaccinations during pregnancy

NHS: Pregnancy vaccinations