Immunisation during pregnancy

Vaccinations during pregnancy help to protect you and your baby against some serious preventable diseases. 

Each vaccine triggers your body to produce antibodies that recognise the disease and help protect you. Your antibodies, not the vaccine itself, pass through the placenta to your unborn baby. These will protect them for the first few months of life after birth until their own immunity is sufficient or they have had their vaccinations. 

Immunisation terms 

You become exposed to a disease or have a vaccine to become immunised. 

• Vaccination having an injection or oral dose of vaccine to produce immunity to an infection or disease.
• Immunisation developing antibodies to protect against infection or disease. 

Protection against influenza & whooping cough 

• Influenza can be a very serious disease, especially during pregnancy. Your body is less able to fight disease and the flu can make you very unwell. The influenza vaccine is free during your pregnancy and can help to protect you both. 
• Whooping cough is a very nasty disease in babies. A whooping cough (Pertussis) vaccine is recommended and free during pregnancy. It is recommend that anyone who will be around your baby has a whooping cough booster.