The importance of maternal vaccinations

There are several illness that you or your baby could be affected by during pregnancy or in their first two years. Keeping up to date with your vaccinations can reduce the risk of serious illness should you or your baby catch an infection.

NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency have launched a campaign to encourage uptake of vaccines in pregnant women. All you have to remember is this simple nursery rhyme message: 

Twinkle twinkle little star, if I’m vaccinated, the safer you are.

You can read more about vaccinations in pregnancy from NHS England here and we’ve collated some information about some common maternal vaccinations below.
 

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common winter virus which affects children under the age of two. RSV often causes mild coughs and colds but is also the most common cause of bronchiolitis infants. Bronchiolitis can make breathing harder and cause difficulty feeding. 

RSV can be more severe in premature babies, babies under two months and infants with underlying health conditions that increase their risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection. Breathing in cigarette smoke also increases the risk of a child getting bronchiolitis, so it is important not to smoke around your child.

Learn more
 

Whooping cough

• Whooping cough (pertussis) is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can be serious. It's important for babies, children and anyone who's pregnant to get vaccinated against it.
• The whooping cough vaccine is routinely given as part of the:
• 6-in-1 vaccine – for babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks
• 4-in-1 pre-school booster – for children aged three years and four months
• If you're pregnant you should also have the whooping cough vaccine. You usually have it when you're around 20 weeks pregnant. This helps protect your baby for the first few weeks of their life.
• Speak to your GP practice or midwife if you're 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine.

Learn more

Flu

Pregnancy changes how the body responds to infections such as flu. There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

Do not worry if you find that you're pregnant later in the flu season – you can have the vaccine then if you have not already had it. If you miss having the flu vaccine for any reason, you can still have it up until you go into labour.

Learn more

Got questions? Bring them to our immunisation information clinics.