Need to talk? Call 1800 882 436.
It's a free call with a maternal child health nurse. *call charges may apply from your mobile

Is it an emergency? Dial 000
If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately.

beginning of content

Vaccinations and pregnancy

7-minute read

Key facts

  • Pregnancy makes you more susceptible to certain infections and increases the risk of complications for both you and your baby.
  • Vaccination is the best way to protect you and your baby from vaccine-preventable infections such as rubella, influenza, chickenpox, whooping cough and COVID-19.
  • Vaccines against influenza, whooping cough and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended during pregnancy.
  • If you are pregnant, you can receive recommended vaccines for free through the National Immunisation Program.

What is vaccination?

Vaccination is a simple and effective way to protect you and your baby from certain infections.

Vaccination prepares the immune system to fight against a future infection. Vaccines contain tiny amounts of dead or weakened viruses or bacteria, called antigens. The immune system responds to these antigens, training the immune system without you getting sick.

This means that your body is better prepared to fight the disease if exposed to it in the future.

Most vaccines are given by injection but some are given as oral drops.

Learn more about the difference between vaccination and immunisation.

Why is vaccination especially important if I’m pregnant?

Pregnancy changes the way your immune system works. This means you are more susceptible to certain infections and illnesses that can be harmful to you and your growing baby.

Following some simple steps will help reduce the risk to you and your baby of developing these health issues.

Should I receive a vaccine against COVID-19?

If you are pregnant, you can get the Pfizer (Cominarty) or Moderna (Spikevax) vaccines against COVID-19 at any stage of your pregnancy.

If you are planning a pregnancy, you can also receive the vaccine. You don’t need to avoid becoming pregnant or delaying pregnancy after getting vaccinated.

For more information, read COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy.

I’m planning a pregnancy. Which vaccinations should I get?

If you are planning a pregnancy, there are vaccines you need before becoming pregnant. This is because some vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy.

As well as the routine vaccinations such as tetanus and polio, if you are pregnant, you should check with your doctor to see if you have immunity against hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox (varicella), whooping cough (pertussis) and influenza.

Rubella

Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. If you are planning a pregnancy, your doctor can check your immunity to rubella with a blood test. Your doctor may recommend a booster vaccination, to help protect your unborn baby if you are exposed to rubella while you’re pregnant.

You should wait 4 weeks after receiving the rubella vaccine before trying to get pregnant.

Chickenpox (varicella)

Chickenpox infection during pregnancy can cause severe illness for both you and your unborn baby. Your doctor can check if you have immunity to chickenpox virus with a simple blood. If you are not protected, you’ll need 2 doses of the vaccine for full immunity.

You should wait 4 weeks after receiving this vaccine before trying to get pregnant.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause long-lasting liver damage. If you are planning a pregnancy, ask your doctor if you need to be vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Pneumococcal disease

Protection against pneumococcal disease is recommended for smokers and people with diabetes or chronic heart, lung or kidney disease. The rates pneumococcal disease are higher among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. If you are planning a pregnancy, check with your doctor if you should be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.

Travel vaccinations

Some of the vaccines you need before you travel to other countries may not be advised during pregnancy. Find out more about travel and pregnancy.

Which vaccinations are safe to get during pregnancy?

Influenza, whooping cough and COVID-19 vaccines are the only vaccines routinely recommended during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, influenza and whooping cough vaccines are provided free through the National Immunisation Program. COVID-19 vaccines are currently free for everyone in Australia.

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Whooping cough can cause serious illness and even death in babies less than 6 months old. It is now recommended that you receive a single dose of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks in each pregnancy. If you get this vaccine during pregnancy, the antibodies to whooping cough will be passed through your blood to your baby. The vaccine will also reduce your chance of catching whooping cough and passing it onto your baby.

Influenza (flu)

Influenza (flu) can cause serious illness. If you catch the flu during pregnancy, you are twice as likely to need care in hospital as someone who isn’t pregnant. The influenza vaccine is safe and will reduce your chance of serious complications from the flu.

If you are pregnant, you can receive the flu vaccine for free through the National Immunisation Program before, during or after pregnancy. There is an updated version of the flu vaccine every year, and yearly vaccination protects you against new strains of the virus. It also reduces your risk of spreading influenza to your family.

Babies are also at higher risk of complications if they do catch the flu. Getting the flu vaccine during your pregnancy will provide protection to your newborn for the first 6 months after birth.

For more information about the influenza vaccine during pregnancy, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care.

COVID-19

If you catch COVID-19 during pregnancy, both you and your baby have a higher risk of complications. You are more likely to need care in hospital and need breathing support (intubation). Your baby is more likely to be born early (premature), need help after birth and has a higher risk of stillbirth.

The best way to reduce these risks is by being vaccinated against COVID-19. Check with your doctor that you have received all the recommended doses.

You can safely receive Pfizer (Cominarty) or Moderna (Spikevax) vaccines at any stage of pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia, even if you don’t have a Medicare card.

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Resources and Support

Find a vaccine clinic, and book your immunisation with healthdirect’s Find a health service tool.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Watch this video to learn more about immunisation during pregnancy from a health expert.

Video provided by Immunisation Coalition.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2022


Back To Top

Need more information?

Immunisation during pregnancy - Immunisation Coalition

Immunisation during pregnancy is vital to protect the mother and unborn child. We recommend pregnant women receive vaccines for whooping cough, influenza and now COVID-19.

Read more on Immunisation Coalition website

Immunisation in pregnancy

During pregnancy, you need to take extra care of yourself to ensure you and your baby remain healthy

Read more on WA Health website

Immunisation | NT.GOV.AU

Vaccination information for adults, children, pregnancy and the workplace.

Read more on NT Health website

Immunisation for pregnancy | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Find out about immunisation for women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

Immunisation and vaccinations for your child

Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting children against certain diseases. Discover more about childhood vaccinations.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Influenza and Pregnancy - Immunisation Coalition

Pregnant women and newborn babies are especially vulnerable to influenza. Vaccinating against influenza can be life saving for both the mother and child.

Read more on Immunisation Coalition website

Immunisation or vaccination - what's the difference?

What's the difference between immunisation and vaccination? Find out how vaccines work and the difference between primary and booster doses.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Pertussis (whooping cough) | The Australian Immunisation Handbook

Information about pertussis (whooping cough) disease, vaccines and recommendations for vaccination from the Australian Immunisation Handbook

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

Should I get the flu vaccine? - MyDr.com.au

Everyone should be immunised against influenza this season when the vaccine becomes available, but pregnant women should be immunised at any time.

Read more on myDr website

Getting vaccinated | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Find out what to do when booking your appointment, and what to expect at your vaccination visit.

Read more on Department of Health and Aged Care website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.