Influenza (flu) vaccine in pregnancy

Pregnant women who catch influenza are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital than other people who have influenza.

The Australian Government and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommend that all pregnant women be vaccinated against influenza to:

• protect themselves – Getting influenza can cause serious problems when you are pregnant. Even if you are generally healthy, changes in immune, heart, and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to get seriously ill from influenza. Pregnant women who get influenza are at higher risk of hospitalisation, and even death, than non-pregnant women.
• protect their baby – When you get your influenza vaccination, your body starts to make antibodies that help protect you against influenza. Antibodies can be passed on to your unborn baby and your immunity will help protect the baby for up to 6 months after they are born. This is important because babies younger than 6 months of age are too young to get an influenza vaccine. Babies are 25% less likely to be hospitalised from influenza-related illness if their mum's are immunised against influenza while pregnant. Severe illness in the pregnant mother can also be dangerous to her unborn baby because it increases the chance for serious problems such as premature labour and delivery. Risk of stillbirth is reduced by up to 51% in pregnant women who are immunised against influenza. If you breastfeed your infant, antibodies made in response your influenza vaccination may also be passed in breast milk and provide additional protection to your newborn.

The World Health Organisation recommends that pregnant women should receive the highest priority for influenza vaccination.

Yes. The influenza vaccine has been given safely to millions of pregnant women worldwide over many years. Influenza vaccinations have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their babies. Multiple studies confirm normal growth and health in babies with no excess in birth defects, cancers or developmental problems including learning, hearing, speech and vision.

In Australia, the safety of vaccination during pregnancy is monitored by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) through AusVaxSafety. For more information about the safety of vaccines in pregnancy, please visit the AusVaxSafety website – pregnant people schedule point (external site) and influenza vaccine safety data – participants (external site).

Vaccination in pregnancy is the only way to protect infants 5 months and younger, although research is underway to assess the safety and efficacy of influenza vaccines in babies as young as 2 months.

The influenza vaccine recommended for pregnant women contains proteins from 4 different types of influenza viruses representing the strains most likely to circulate each winter.

Inactivated influenza vaccines cannot give you influenza illness because they do not contain live virus.

The influenza vaccine can be given at any time during pregnancy. However, protecting women during their second and third trimesters is a priority because this is the time when serious complications from influenza are more likely to occur.

After vaccination it can take up to 2 weeks to develop protection.

If a pregnancy overlaps two influenza seasons and the woman has already received influenza vaccine in the prior season, she can also receive the current season vaccine later in pregnancy.

Like any medicine, there is a potential for side effects. The most common side effects after influenza vaccination are mild, such as tenderness, redness and/or swelling at the injection site. Some people might have a headache, muscle aches, fever, nausea or feel tired.

If these symptoms occur, they usually begin soon after the vaccination and last 1–2 days. None of the common side effects endanger the baby.

Allergic reactions to vaccines are very rare. Anaphylaxis is the most serious form of allergic reaction and is potentially life-threatening. It is important to stay for 15 minutes following your influenza vaccination under observation as most allergic reactions occur within 15 minutes of a receiving a vaccine. It is important to tell your immunisation provider if you have any severe allergies or if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction following a vaccination.

If you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of any influenza vaccine, or if you have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you should not get an influenza vaccine. Talk to your immunisation provider to check what is best suited to your needs.

Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty in breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

If you think you are having a severe allergic reaction or any other medical emergency that requires urgent attention, call 000 or go to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor or after-hours GP.

Yes. You can get the influenza vaccine and whooping cough vaccine at the same time during your pregnancy. You can also get them at different visits.

Usually it is recommended for you to get the whooping cough vaccine when you are in the second or third trimester, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks of every pregnancy.

Yes, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has advised that influenza vaccines can be co-administered (on the same day) with a COVID-19 vaccine.

Visit an immunisation provider such as a GP, antenatal clinic or Aboriginal Medical Service.