What vaccines can you have when pregnant

Getting vaccinated before pregnancy will help prevent COVID infection and its serious consequences. COVID vaccines are recommended to pregnant women. If you find out you are pregnant after you have had one dose of the vaccine between doses , you are advised to have your second dose 8 weeks after your first dose.

We recommend that you complete the course of vaccination before giving birth, or before you enter the third trimester, when the risk of serious illness from COVID is greatest.

You can discuss these risks with a doctor or your midwife, and you may want to use the RCOG and RCM decision tool to assist you in deciding what to do next.

The British Fertility Society recommends considering the timing of your vaccine, taking into account that some people may experience minor side effects in the few days after vaccination that you do not want to have during treatment. It may be sensible to separate the date of vaccination by a few days from some treatment procedures for example egg collection and embryo transfer in IVF so that any symptoms, such as fever, might be attributed correctly to the vaccine or the treatment procedure.

Your medical team will be able to advise you about the best time for your situation. If you have the vaccine at this time, you will help to protect yourself and your baby from the effects of COVID infection in pregnancy. A minority of women going through IVF receive immune suppressant therapy.

However, the vaccine may provide less protection as these treatments may reduce the level of anti-COVID antibodies produced by the body in response to the vaccine. You should discuss the pros and cons of these approaches with your fertility specialist.

Animal studies of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines showed that administering these vaccines in rats had no effect on fertility. Evidence has not been presented that women who have been vaccinated have gone on to have fertility problems. Likewise, the theory that immunity to the spike protein could lead to fertility problems is not supported by evidence.

As more evidence becomes available on the safety of each vaccine from following up people for longer , we will update our advice.

If you receive a dose of the vaccine before finding out you are pregnant, or unintentionally while you are pregnant, you should be reassured that the vaccine is safe and effective at any stage of pregnancy. Second doses are given 8 after the first dose and we recommend that you complete the course of vaccination before giving birth, or before you enter the third trimester, when the risk of serious illness from COVID is greatest.

Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding are already routinely and safely offered vaccines in pregnancy, for example to protect against influenza and whooping cough. Many of these vaccines also protect their babies from infection.

However, specific evidence regarding the safety of the COVID vaccination in pregnancy is not yet available. Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects.

These are usually mild and do not last long. Very common side effects in the first day or two after your vaccine include: pain or tenderness in your arm where you had your injection, feeling tired and headaches, aches and chills. You may also have flu like symptoms and experiences episodes of shivering or shaking for a day or two. If you develop a fever your temperature is 38C or above you can rest and take paracetamol, which is safe in pregnancy.

You can report any suspected side effects through the Yellow Card scheme, which allows the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency MHRA to monitor side effects and ensure vaccines are safe. If you are concerned about your symptoms, you can contact your GP or maternity team for further advice. There have been reports of an extremely rare clotting problem associated with people receiving the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

If you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently:. Toggle navigation. Toggle navigation Other pages in this section. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID in pregnancy for both women and babies, including admission of the woman to intensive care and premature birth of the baby Women may wish to discuss the benefits and risks of having the vaccine with their healthcare professional and reach a joint decision based on individual circumstances.

However, as for the non-pregnant population, pregnant women can receive a COVID vaccine even if they have not had a discussion with a healthcare professional. Women trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination and there is no evidence to suggest that COVID vaccines will affect fertility.

Having a COVID vaccine will not remove the requirement for employers to carry out a risk assessment for pregnant employees, which should follow the rules set out in this government guidance. See our media statement s in response to recent guidance updates on COVID vaccination and pregnancy Resources to help with decision making Vaccination is recommended in pregnancy, but the decision whether to have the vaccine is your choice.

What is the advice on going to work if I am pregnant and have been vaccinated? What is known about the impact of COVID vaccination on babies born to women who have been vaccinated in pregnancy? What are the benefits of vaccination in pregnancy? The benefits of vaccination include: reduction in severe disease for the pregnant woman reduction in the risk of stillbirth and prematurity for the baby potentially reducing transmission to vulnerable household members.

When in pregnancy can I have the vaccine? Does it matter which vaccine I have? I have already had one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine prior to or earlier in my pregnancy. I am now pregnant and due my second dose. What should I do? Just be sure to postpone pregnancy for one month because these shots are made from live viruses that can harm your baby. Measles, a very contagious illness caused by a virus, has experienced a few recent outbursts in this country.

It starts with a fever, cough, and runny nose and is followed by a spotted red rash a couple of days later. Mumps is also a contagious viral disease that causes the salivary glands to swell. If you are infected with either one in pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage may rise measles may also increase the chance of premature labor.

The rubella virus, also called German measles, presents flu-like symptoms often followed by a rash. It can also be harmful during pregnancy: Up to 85 percent of babies of moms who contract it during the first trimester develop serious birth defects , such as hearing loss and intellectual disabilities. Learn more about the MMR vaccine. An extremely contagious disease , chickenpox causes fever and an uncomfortable, itchy rash.

About 2 percent of babies of women who develop chickenpox during the first five months of pregnancy have birth defects , including malformed and paralyzed limbs. What's more, a woman who develops chickenpox around the time of delivery can also pass a life-threatening form of the infection to her baby. Learn more about the varicella vaccine. Vaccines made from dead viruses are usually safe during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider can help decide which ones you should receive.

The flu shot is made of dead viruses, so it's safe for both you and baby. But you should avoid FluMist, a nasal-spray vaccine made from live viruses. The best time to get a flu shot is in October or November, before the flu season is in full swing. And because flu strains change every year, the vaccine does too—so don't rely on last year's shot to get you through this year's season.

Moms-to-be who come down with the flu, especially during the second half of pregnancy, are more likely than other women to suffer severe symptoms or complications such as pneumonia. Even a moderate case of the flu can make you feel miserable, resulting in fever, headaches, muscle pain, sore throat, and coughing.

Most of these symptoms last about four days, although coughing and fatigue can drag on for two weeks or longer. Learn more about the flu shot. Because of the increase in pertussis whooping cough in the U. Tdap can be given at any point during pregnancy, though the preferred timeframe is between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. The vaccine is made with toxoids, so it's safe to get while expecting.

Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a disease of the central nervous system that causes painful muscle spasms and convulsions. The bacterium that causes tetanus can be found in soil and in animal waste.

It can enter the bloodstream through a cut in the skin, so follow up with your doctor if you get a deep or dirty wound. If contracted during pregnancy, tetanus can cause fetal death. Vaccination is a simple and effective way to protect you and your baby from certain infections. Before becoming pregnant, check that your vaccinations are up to date to protect against diseases that can cause illness in you or your unborn baby. Vaccination is the term used for getting a vaccine — that is, getting the injection or taking an oral vaccine dose.

Immunisation refers to the process of both getting the vaccine and becoming immune to the disease after vaccination. Learn more about the difference between vaccination and immunisation.

As well as the routine vaccinations such as tetanus and polio , pregnant women should have immunity against hepatitis B , measles , mumps , rubella, chickenpox varicella , whooping cough pertussis and influenza.

All women are encouraged to get vaccinated before pregnancy because some of these vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy. However, if you were unable to receive these vaccines before your pregnancy, you can have influenza and whooping cough pertussis during pregnancy and the others as soon as possible after your baby is born. All of these vaccines can be given to breastfeeding mothers, and having immunity will reduce the likelihood of passing on these illnesses to your baby. It is recommended that pregnant women can get the Pfizer Cominarty vaccine at any stage of their pregnancy.

Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects. Checking your immunity with a blood test before becoming pregnant and having a booster vaccination if required will help protect your unborn child when you do become pregnant. This should be done in consultation with your doctor. It is recommended that you wait 4 weeks after receiving this vaccine before trying to get pregnant.

Chickenpox infection during pregnancy can cause severe illness in you and your unborn baby. A simple blood test can determine if you have immunity to this infection. If you are not protected, speak to your doctor about receiving 2 doses of the vaccine for full immunity. Hepatitis B is an infection with a virus that can cause long-lasting liver damage.

If you are planning a pregnancy, it is important to check if you need to be vaccinated for hepatitis B. Protection against serious illness caused by pneumococcal disease is recommended for smokers and people with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, or diabetes.

Vaccines that are required to travel to other countries are not always recommended during pregnancy. Find out more about travel and pregnancy. Influenza and whooping cough vaccines are the only vaccines recommended for women during pregnancy.

Both vaccines are provided free to pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program. Whooping cough can cause serious illness and even death in babies less than 6 months old. It is now recommended that all pregnant women receive a single dose of pertussis whooping cough vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks in each pregnancy. Speak to your doctor or antenatal care provider to schedule an appointment. Influenza can cause serious illness.

The risk to pregnant women of serious complications is up to 5 times higher than normal. Because of this, the flu vaccine is recommended and funded for all pregnant women.