Winter vaccinations if you’re pregnant

If you are pregnant, flu can cause serious harm to you and your baby. Vaccination gives the best protection.

It’s safe to have the flu vaccination at any stage during pregnancy. It will give your baby protection against the virus for the first few months of their life.

The viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the types of flu virus the vaccines are designed to prevent this year may be different from last year. The protection from a flu vaccine also goes down with time.

If you had the flu vaccine during the last flu season because you were pregnant (same pregnancy or a previous pregnancy), or because you’re in a vulnerable group, you need to have it again this year.

When can I get my flu vaccination?

You can get the flu jab from September 2025 at any stage of your pregnancy, but it’s better to get vaccinated as soon as you can to keep protected over winter.

How do I get my flu jab?

• Speak to your GP practice or midwife
• Use the find a pharmacy service to find a pharmacy (chemist) that offers free flu vaccination.

Find out more about flu.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. It usually gets better by itself, but it can be serious for small babies

It can cause bronchiolitis, a lung infection that makes it hard for babies to breathe and feed. Some will need hospital care and it can be very serious. Sadly sometimes babies die.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to RSV lung infections as they have small airways and have limited immunity against the virus.

Getting vaccinated when you’re pregnant will give your baby protection from the day they are born.

When can I get my RSV vaccination?

From week 28 of pregnancy right up to birth, but getting it as soon as possible gives your baby the best protection.

You should get vaccinated in every pregnancy.

Studies have shown the RSV vaccine is very safe for you and your baby.

How do I get my RSV vaccination?

If you haven’t been offered it around the time of your 28-week antenatal appointment, contact your midwife or GP.

Find out more about RSV

Whooping cough (pertussis) rates have risen recently. Babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk.

Whooping cough can be serious for babies and may lead to complications resulting in hospitalisation and even death.

Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated.

When can I get my whooping cough jab

You should usually have the whooping cough vaccine at around 20 weeks pregnant, but you can have it from 16 weeks. If you are 20 weeks pregnant and have not been offered the whooping cough vaccine, contact your midwife or GP surgery.

To help give the best protection to your baby, you should have the vaccine before 32 weeks. If you miss out, you can still have the vaccine later.

How do I get my whooping cough jab

Speak to your GP practice or midwife.

During pregnancy, some vaccines are offered to protect against diseases and their complications. These vaccines are developed to help protect against serious illness to you whilst pregnant, your unborn or newborn baby.

Receiving these vaccines is safe and the best way to protect both mother and baby during this important time. The vaccines do not contain a live strain of the virus, therefore are perfectly safe to have during pregnancy.

Vaccines offer the best protection to you and your baby.

Vaccines are passed through the placenta to the baby protecting them in the first few months of life and can stop them from becoming seriously ill.

You’ll be offered different vaccines at different stages of your pregnancy.

The flu vaccination programme begins in September and is available at any time during pregnancy, the whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks, and the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks.

These vaccines protect you and your baby from serious diseases, and it’s best to have them as soon as they are offered.

You can have the recommended pregnancy vaccinations at the same time, but it’s best to have them as soon as they’re offered rather than waiting to have them all at once.

When you are pregnant it is harder for your body to fight infections.

Some vaccines are vital during pregnancy to protect the health of you and your baby and keep you both safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your maternity team or GP practice.