Flu vaccine in pregnancy

It’s recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they are at. It’s free for pregnant women.

Why are pregnant women advised to have the flu vaccine?

A flu jab will help protect both you and your baby.

There is good evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.

Pregnancy changes how the body responds to infections such as flu. Having flu increases the chances of pregnant women and their babies needing intensive care.

One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.

If you have flu while you’re pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight, and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, before flu starts circulating.

If you’ve missed this time, you can be vaccinated later in the winter although it’s better to get it earlier.

Do not worry if you find that you’re pregnant later in the flu season – you can have the vaccine then if you have not already had it.

How to get the flu vaccine if you are pregnant

As well as seeing your GP or community pharmacy, you can get a flu vaccine from our maternity immunisation team, who offer vaccines to women and people who are over 16 weeks pregnant in Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend. Our team runs drop-in clinics at the maternity departments of these hospitals. You can get your vaccine on the following days:

Basildon Hospital: Tuesday and Friday, 9am-5pm
Broomfield Hospital: Tuesday and Wednesday, 9am – 5pm
Southend Hospital: Tuesday and Friday, 9am – 5pm

No appointment is necessary; simply visit the clinic during the hours listed. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the maternity department directly

We understand that for some people, having a vaccination while pregnant can be worrying. If you have concerns or questions, please visit our drop-in clinics, where our healthcare teams can answer your questions and explain why we recommend these vaccinations.