Vaccines for pregnant women

About vaccination for pregnant women

Some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy to help protect you and your baby from serious diseases. These vaccines help protect your baby before and after they are born.

Read the Maternal vaccinations fact sheet.

What vaccines can I get

The list of recommended vaccines for mob is called the National Immunisation Program schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The schedule provides the following vaccines for free for pregnant women:

• influenza (flu)
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• whooping cough (pertussis).

These vaccines are recommended because they protect against diseases that can cause serious illness and complications in pregnant women and young babies.

Watch these short videos to learn more about the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and how they help protect you and your baby:

• Maternal vaccinations
• Maternal vaccinations – flu   
• Maternal vaccinations – RSV
• Maternal vaccinations – whooping cough. 

Extra vaccines may also be available for free as part of state and territory government programs.

Extra vaccines that are not free

Some people may need additional vaccines based on their age, health condition, travel plans or other circumstances. Talk to your health professional about whether extra vaccines are recommended for you during your pregnancy.

If your health professional recommends other vaccines that are not free, you can buy them privately with a prescription.

When can I get the vaccines

The recommended timing for free vaccines during pregnancy is:

• influenza vaccine – at any stage of pregnancy
• whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine – during the end of the second trimester or third trimester (between 20 and 32 weeks of each pregnancy, although it can be given up to the time of delivery)
• RSV vaccine – during the third trimester (between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy).

You can safely have more than one vaccine at the same appointment if recommended by your health professional.  

Catching up on missed vaccinations

If you missed any childhood vaccines, you can catch up on most of them for free up until you turn 20. You can catch up on the HPV vaccine for free until you turn 26. Staying up to date with vaccinations helps keep you and your baby safe from serious diseases.

Talk to your health professional about which vaccines you should catch up on if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.  

How are the vaccines given

You get most of the scheduled vaccines under the National Immunisation Program as an injection in the arm.

Combination vaccines

Why do some vaccines need more than one dose

Some vaccines need more than one dose to give the best possible protection. Depending on the vaccine, this is to either:

• boost your immunity (such as the whooping cough vaccine, which is also given to children and teenagers)
• protect against diseases that change over time (such as the flu).

How do the vaccines work

When you get a vaccine, your body’s immune system creates antibodies for protection. If you come into contact with that disease in the future, your immune system remembers it and responds quickly.

When you get a vaccine during pregnancy, you transfer antibodies to your baby through the placenta. This protects your baby for the first few months after birth, when they are most vulnerable to getting sick from infectious diseases.

Most vaccines take about 7 to 21 days to provide immunity.

To find out more, see:

• The science of immunisation: questions and answers page on the Australian Academy of Science website.
• our Yarning about vaccination fact sheet.

What are the benefits and risks of the vaccines

All vaccines in Australia have been tested for safety and are regularly monitored for the side effects they may cause. You may have side effects after getting the vaccines, but these are almost always mild.  

Without the vaccines, you and your unborn child could be at risk of getting seriously sick with ongoing complications. Some diseases like whooping cough can even cause death.  

Getting a disease is likely to be more serious than the risks of the vaccine. For example:

• Influenza (flu) can cause serious illness and complications such as pneumonia in pregnant women and babies.
• RSV can cause serious lung infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young babies.
• Whooping cough can cause serious health problems like broken ribs and hernia in adults, and can be life-threatening for young babies.

Vaccination during pregnancy helps protect both you and your baby. The vaccines lower your risk of serious illness during pregnancy and help pass protection to your baby before they are old enough to receive some of their own vaccinations.

Possible side effects

Each vaccine has possible side effects. Most are mild, but occasionally there can be serious side effects.

Common side effects

Most side effects are mild and usually go away in a few days. Find out about possible side effects and how to manage them.  

If you are concerned, speak to a health professional for advice. Most people who have reactions can safely have more vaccines. If needed, your health professional may refer you for more testing or take extra precautions before the next vaccine.

Very rare side effects

Serious side effects, like a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), are very rare. These need medical attention straight away.

How do I get vaccinated

See the About vaccination for mob web page to find out how to get vaccinated.

More information

For more information:

• See the About vaccination for mob and National Immunisation Program vaccines for mob web pages.
• View our National Immunisation Program resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

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