Pregnant and breastfeeding women - immunisation
Talk to your doctor before being immunised if you are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant or breastfeeding. Even if you have had certain diseases or were vaccinated as a child, you may need a booster dose to ensure you are still protected.
To find out more, talk to your doctor or midwife.
Pregnant women
During pregnancy, some vaccinations are recommended:
- influenza
- combined diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), in short dTpa
The influenza and whooping cough vaccines are funded for all pregnant women, but you may have to pay for your medical consultation with your GP. Partners of pregnant women should also be vaccinated and should consult their GP to discuss their immunisation status and when to have the vaccines. Vaccination for partners is not funded.
Other vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy unless you are in a situation where the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks. You should discuss this with your GP.
You can get the pertussis vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time during your pregnancy. You can also get them at different visits. This will depend on what stage of pregnancy you are at when you visit your GP. You should discuss with your GP the best time to have the vaccines which will give you and your newborn baby the best protection possible.
COVID-19 vaccination
Read more about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine whilst pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women
The whooping cough vaccine is funded for pregnant women by the Australian Government as part of the National Immunisation Program. This vaccination is recommended for each pregnancy between 20 and 32 weeks, including pregnancies which are closely spaced, e.g. less than 2 years.
As the transfer of maternal antibodies from the mother to the unborn baby can take up to 2 weeks, it’s recommended to have your vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks to give the best protection to your baby. If you don’t receive the vaccine at the recommended time, it’s still important to be vaccinated because you will be protected against whooping cough and this will reduce the risk of you passing it on to your baby if you get whooping cough.
Newborn babies (up to 6 weeks of age) are too young to receive their first immunisation for whooping cough. By being vaccinated when you are pregnant, you will protect your baby against whooping cough until they are old enough to be routinely vaccinated from six weeks of age.
The whooping cough vaccine is safe for you and your unborn baby. Vaccination during pregnancy is recommended by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council in the Australian Online Immunisation Handbook.
Find research about the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine for pregnant women
Flu vaccination for pregnant women
It is safe to have the influenza vaccine if you are pregnant or planning to have a baby.
When you are pregnant, you are at increased risk of serious complications from the flu. So, immunising against flu during pregnancy not only protects you but it gives ongoing protection to your baby for the first 6 months after birth.
For the best protection against flu, pregnant women who receive an influenza vaccine late in the influenza season, should be re-vaccinated if the next season's vaccine becomes available before the end of their pregnancy. The timing of vaccination will be dependent on the stage of your pregnancy, the time of year and vaccine availability. The flu vaccine can be safely given during any stage of pregnancy. Discuss your options with your GP. For further information, download the Statement on the Administration of Seasonal Influenza Vaccines in 2022 by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
Partners of pregnant women and household contacts
To protect your baby, both parents should be vaccinated against influenza and whooping cough.
For whooping cough, partners of pregnant women should be vaccinated at least 2 weeks before delivery. A booster dose of dTpa vaccine is recommended for partners who have not received one in the previous 10 years. If you have children already, make sure they are also vaccinated.
For influenza, partners of pregnant women should be vaccinated early in the pregnancy dependent on the time of year and vaccine availability.
As well as partners, other adults in close contact with newborn babies should consider the benefits to the baby and themselves by being vaccinated at least 2 weeks before beginning close contact with the baby.
Breastfeeding women
After your baby is born, immunisations are safe, even if you are breastfeeding.
Vaccines available
Disease | Why immunise | Immunisations can be given: |
Rubella infection in a pregnant woman can cause serious birth defects in the baby. People born after 1966 may need a booster dose. |
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Pregnant women and unborn babies can become seriously ill from chickenpox and birth defects can result in the baby. A blood test can confirm if you are protected. If you are not protected, speak to your doctor about receiving 2 doses of vaccine. |
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Pregnancy increases the risk of developing serious complications from influenza. |
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Pregnant women can transmit the hepatitis B virus to the newborn at or around the time of birth. |
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Babies under 6 months of age are at risk of serious illness and even death from whooping cough. Parents should be vaccinated against whooping cough to reduce the risk of passing the disease onto their new baby. |
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If you smoke or have chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, or diabetes, then protection against pneumococcal disease is recommended prior to becoming pregnant. |
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Resources
- Whooping cough and influenza during pregnancy
- Immunisation for children
- Protect your baby from whooping cough brochure (includes other languages)