Vaccines during pregnancy

If you’re pregnant it’s important to stay up to date with your vaccines when they’re offered to you. Vaccines not only protect you, they give your baby protection too when they’re born. You can find out more about the whooping cough, RSV, and flu vaccines here.

Jump to a section in this article

Pregnancy and whooping cough

It’s important to get the whooping cough vaccine as soon as possible after week 16 of your pregnancy. Getting the vaccine protects you, and also offers vital protection to your baby until they’re old enough to have the routine immunisation at 8 weeks old.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It causes repeated coughing bouts that can last for 2 to 3 months or more, and can make babies and young children in particular very ill.

The whooping cough vaccine is recommended every time you’re pregnant, even if you’ve had the vaccine before.

Pregnancy and RSV

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. In most people it causes a mild illness with cold-like symptoms. In Scotland, RSV is the most common reason that babies are admitted to hospital with respiratory (breathing) problems. This is why if you’re pregnant you’ll be offered the RSV vaccine. It’ll help protect your baby against serious illness from RSV infection. You can get the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks.

You can find out more about the RSV vaccine on the NHS Inform website.

Pregnancy and flu

Influenza (flu) is an infectious virus and can be serious, even if you’re healthy. The flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to help protect against flu, for you and your baby.

You can find out more about the flu vaccine on the NHS Inform website.