Influenza is a serious disease for pregnant women and their babies
Influenza is not just a cold. It is a serious disease for pregnant women and their developing and newborn baby.
A flu vaccination during pregnancy not only protects you, it also protects your newborn for their first 6 months.
It's free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).
Why you should vaccinate against influenza in pregnancy
Influenza vaccination is safe, free and recommended for pregnant women in each pregnancy.
Receiving the influenza vaccine when pregnant is the best way to protect your newborn baby against influenza and other complications that can harm developing babies.
Vaccination when pregnant protects your baby
By getting vaccinated, you pass on protective antibodies to your baby through the placenta which protects them in their first few months of life, when they are most vulnerable and too young to have the influenza vaccine themselves.
The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is also recommended and provided free for pregnant women.
Our maternal vaccinations consumer brochure has more information on influenza and vaccination in pregnancy.
Influenza vaccination is safe at any stage of pregnancy
Vaccination during pregnancy is a safe and effective way to protect pregnant women and their babies against influenza.
Extensive studies of women vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy have found no evidence the vaccine harms unborn babies. All vaccines used in Australia provide benefits that far outweigh any risks.
Find out more about immunisation during pregnancy
For more, see: