The influenza vaccine is provided at no cost for pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program. If you’re pregnant, speak to your doctor, nurse, or midwife today.

When your baby is six months old, one age-specific vaccine is recommended: the combined DTPa-Hib-IPV-HepB vaccine. This vaccine protects your baby from six diseases. Before influenza season, it is also recommended that your baby gets an influenza vaccine. The vaccines are given as needles, usually in baby’s leg.

When your child is four years old, one age-specific vaccine is recommended: a combined DTPa/IPV vaccine. This vaccine strengthens their immunity to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio. It is also recommended that your child gets an influenza vaccine every year before the influenza season. These vaccines are given as needles, usually in your child’s arm.

Now that your child is 12 months old, three age-specific vaccines are recommended: 4vMenCV, 13vPCV and MMR. These three vaccines help protect your child from five diseases. It is also recommended that your child gets an influenza vaccine every year before influenza season. The vaccines are given as needles, usually in your child’s arms.

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The flu shot is safe for pregnant women, and provides effective protection for you and your new-born baby for the first six months of their life.

What are the side effects of influenza vaccines? Common side effects About 10 per cent of children (1 out of every 10) who have an influenza vaccine experience swelling, redness, pain at the injection site that lasts one or two days.  Between 1 per cent and 10 per cent of people (1–10 out of every 100) who have an influenza vaccine get a fever, headache, tiredness or lack of energy (malaise) or muscle aches (myalgia) that last one or two days.    Rare side effects

What will happen when I get there?   How can I make it easier for my child?