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Vaccination in Pregnancy

Checked: 03-10-2024 by Rob Adams Next Review: 02-10-2026

Overview

The NHS website gives a summary of vaccinations that should be considered in pregnancy and those that should be avoided:

Vaccinations in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk) - includes advice about flu, pertussis and covid-19 vaccination and also travel vaccination and malaria prophylaxis

Pertussis Vaccination in Pregnancy

Pertussis cases continue to rise rapidly and sadly there were 9 infant deaths between November 2023 and July 2024. The NHS is encouraging staff who come in contact with pregnant women to signpost or offer pertussis vaccination at every opportunity.

All pregnant women should be vaccinated in every pregnancy (even if vaccinated before) - Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Women should normally receive their whooping cough vaccine around the time of their mid-pregnancy scan (usually 20 weeks) but can receive it from 16 weeks (and preferably before 32 weeks for optimal protection). (1).

There is an Ardens template in EMIS that can be used to record administration of the vaccine in primary care.

Please also see the following advice for further details of the program:

COVID Vaccination in Pregnancy

NHS advice on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and while breast feeding:

COVID-19 vaccination: women who are pregnant or breastfeeding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The RCOG has some advice and FAQs on COVID-19 vaccination:

COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding FAQs | RCOG (2)

COVID-19 vaccines are strongly recommended in pregnancy. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy for both women and babies. (2)

Flu Vaccination in Pregnancy

NHS advice for patients:

The flu jab in pregnancy (3)

It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they are at. (3)

Flu vaccination programme 2023 to 2024: information for healthcare practitioners - GOV.UK

RSV Vaccination in Pregnancy

From 1 September 2024, pregnant women can have a free vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

A guide to RSV vaccination for pregnant women - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This vaccine should be offered by midwives at the 28 week antenatal appointment.

Patients can still have the vaccine later in their pregnancy but it may be less effective. However, if it hasn't been possible to have the vaccine earlier, it can be given right up until delivery.

Practices are advised against inviting pregnant patients for RSV vaccination, as the NHS RAVS system and EMIS cannot update each other with vaccination details. This is due to be resolved soon.

There is an exception to this. If a pregnant person attending a practice requests a RSV jab and can provide evidence they haven't received one this pregnancy via the Badgernet app, practices can vaccinate and claim the associated IoS fee. This exception also applies if the midwife sends the patient to the practice team with a note.

Resources

Immunisation against infectious disease - GOV.UK (The Green Book)

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.