Vaccinations

Two vaccinations are recommended for pregnant women- influenza and pertussis. Other vaccinations may be needed in pregnancy if women are at high risk of contracting an infectious disease, such as hepatitis B. Live vaccines are avoided in pregnancy, due to the theoretical risk of congenital infection with use of a live vaccine. 

The influenza vaccine is strongly recommended in pregnancy and can be given in any trimester. Pregnant women are at high risk of severe complications from influenza (ICU admission, ventilation, and death) because of the physiological changes that occur in the cardiorespiratory system and immune systems. Influenza vaccines have been shown to decrease the risk of influenza in pregnancy and are fully funded for pregnant women. 

The pertussis vaccine is also strongly recommended in pregnancy as it decreases the risk of pertussis in babies in the first 6 weeks. Infants do not receive their first vaccinations until 6 weeks and so they are not protected against pertussis during this time. If the mother has a pertussis booster (given as the dTap booster- diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis) between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy then this confers passive immunity to the baby, which can be protective in the first 6 weeks of life. The pertussis vaccination is fully funded for pregnant women. Other close contacts of the baby (such as family members) are also recommended to have a pertussis booster (although this is not funded for them). 

If women are found during their pregnancy screening to be non-immune to Rubella, they should be recommended to be vaccinated after pregnancy.