HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Vaccinations in pregnancy
Ngā rongoā āraimate ā mua i tō pēpi
It is very important to protect yourself and your pēpi while you are pregnant and until they are 6 months old.
Health providers recommend that pregnant women are vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19 and pertussis (whooping cough) during their pregnancy. The pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination also immunises against tetanus and diphtheria. You can get both vaccinations free at your general practice. Just call them to book a time. Research shows the recommended vaccinations are safe and can help to protect your pēpi.
Whooping cough
Having a whooping cough vaccination gives your pēpi the best possible protection until they are fully vaccinated against this disease at 5 months. It is available free of charge from when you are 13 weeks pregnant until you give birth.
It is best that all others who will have close contact with your pēpi are also vaccinated against whooping cough so they cannot pass it to your pēpi. They may have to pay for their vaccinations.
The vaccination is also free for parents or primary caregivers of pēpi admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit or specialist care baby unit for more than 3 days.
Flu
The flu vaccine is free to pregnant women during the vaccination season of 1 April to 31 December each year. Pregnant women are often more ill than other people if they get the flu and are likely to have worse complications. Having this vaccine also means there is less chance you will pass the flu on to your pēpi before they can be vaccinated at 6 months old.
Whānau (family) members and close contacts should also be vaccinated against the flu to protect both you and your pēpi.
COVID-19
Pregnant people can get really sick from COVID-19.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 means you are far less likely to get seriously ill. It also protects your pēpi. There is evidence that pēpi can get antibodies through the placenta that help protect them from COVID-19.
As well as your first 2 COVID-19 vaccinations, pregnant people over 16 years old can have booster vaccinations.
To get a booster it is recommended that you wait at least 6 months from your last COVID-19 vaccination or infection.
You can book your COVID-19 vaccination either on its own or at the same time as a flu vaccination via Book a vaccine.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Health Information and Services – Pregnancy and immunisations
Information about vaccinations you should get when you are planning a pregnancy, while you are pregnant and after your pēpi is born.
- Ministry of Health – Protecting you and your pēpi starts during pregnancy
This leaflet has information about protecting your pēpi and you from whooping cough, influenza and COVID.
On the next page: Whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women
Written by the Canterbury Immunisation Provider Group. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2024.
Sources
See also:
Review key: HIPRC-41255
