Vaccinations in pregnancy
Some vaccinations are recommended during pregnancy to protect you and your baby’s health. During pregnancy, your immune system is weakened, and your baby’s immune system is not fully developed. This can mean you are both less able to fight infections. Vaccinations can protect you and your baby from serious illness.
Vaccinations offered during pregnancy
At your first antentatal appointment, your midwife will discuss what vaccines are recommended in pregnancy.
It is your choice whether you have the vaccines.
In Northern Ireland, the vaccinations are free if you are registered with a General Practitioner (GP).
The following vaccinations are recommended in pregnancy:
• whooping cough (pertussis)
• influenza (flu)
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• COVID-19
Whooping cough
Cases of whooping cough (also known as pertussis) have risen sharply across Northern Ireland.
You can help protect your unborn baby from getting whooping cough in the weeks after birth by having the whooping cough vaccination while you are pregnant.
Find out more about the whooping cough vaccine at:
Flu
Flu is a highly infectious virus that occurs every year especially over the winter.
Pregnant women are more likely to develop serious complications such as pneumonia which may require hospitalisation.
Taking the flu vaccine during pregnancy allows antibodies to pass from you to your baby, protecting you both.
Find out more about the flu vaccine at:
Respiratory Synctical Virus (RSV)
You can get a vaccine in each pregnancy to protect your baby against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a common virus that can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis.
Infants with severe bronchiolitis may need intensive care and the infection can be fatal.
Find out more about the RSV vaccine at:
COVID-19
COVID-19 can cause severe illness in pregnancy, potentially leading to hospital admission or premature birth.
Pregnant women are at more risk of becoming unwell from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women of the same age.
You are also at a higher risk if you have an underlying health condition, such as:
- immune problems
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- asthma
or if you are:
- overweight
- over the age of 35
- in the third trimester of pregnancy (over 28 weeks)
Find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine at:
Where to get your vaccines
Speak to your midwife about booking your vaccinations/
Vaccination clinics are held in the following locations.
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Royal Victoria Hospital
- Mater Hospital
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Braidvalley Maternity Clinic
- Mid-Ulster Maternity Clinic
- Causeway Maternity Clinic
- Antrim Maternity Clinic
- Whiteabbey Maternity Clinic
Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- Craigavon Hospital
- Daisy Hill Hospital
- Armagh Community Hospital
- South Tyrone Hospital
South Eastern Health and social care Trust
- Ulster Hospital
- Downe Hospital
- Ards Maternity Hub
- Lagan Valley Hospital
Western Health and Social Care Trust
- Altnagelvin Hospital
- Strabane health Centre
- Shantallow health Centre
- Limavady Roe Valley antenatal clinic