We recommend you get the flu and whooping cough vaccinations when you’re pregnant. You can get these at the same time or separately.
Health advice about the COVID-19 vaccine
The risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn babies. Because of this, it’s recommended you keep up to date with your vaccinations. You can get these at any time during your pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, talk to your health care provider about COVID-19 vaccination.
The flu
If you get the flu during pregnancy, you have a high risk of complications. Vaccination will protect you and your baby.
Babies under 6 months can’t be vaccinated against the flu. However, if you have the vaccination during your pregnancy they’ll have some protection for first 6 months of their life.
We recommend you have the vaccine in every pregnancy and at any stage of pregnancy.
If you’ve had the previous year’s vaccine early in your pregnancy you can get the current vaccine later in the same pregnancy.
If you had the vaccine before becoming pregnant you get it again during your pregnancy.
If you’re breastfeeding, it’s safe to get the vaccine. Doing this will help build your baby’s immunity.
The flu vaccine is free for pregnant women through the National Immunisation Program.
Find out more about the flu.
Whooping Cough
If you get whooping cough (pertussis) during pregnancy you may get pneumonia, fits and brain damage from prolonged lack of oxygen.
It’s also a serious disease for babies and can be deadly.
Having the vaccine in your pregnancy is the best way to protect your baby against whooping cough.
When you get the vaccine, your antibodies will transfer to your unborn baby. This will give them protection in their first few months of life until they’re old enough to be vaccinated.
The whooping cough vaccine is free for pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program.
Find out more about whooping cough.
Vaccination Schedule
You might need to different vaccines during pregnancy. It’s also important that you get your vaccines on time.
If you have medically at-risk conditions, you may need extra vaccines. Talk to your GP for more information.
Pregnant women
- dTpa (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough) – one dose at between 20 and 32 weeks gestation for each pregnancy
- influenza – any time during your pregnancy.
Where to get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated is easy. You can get most vaccines from your GP or health provider. Find out where to get vaccinated.
Vaccination information in your language
For information in your language, watch our video.
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Vaccines for adults and other information
In Australia there are some vaccines recommended and provided for free to adults.
These include vaccines for women during pregnancy for people with some medical conditions and for people older than 65 years of age.
The vaccines given during pregnancy protect the woman and the unborn baby from diseases during pregnancy and in the first few months of the new baby's life.
As we get older, our bodies defences don't work as well and we become more vulnerable to some diseases.
Immunisations can provide protection for older people from these diseases.
Talk to your doctor about your vaccination needs.
To see which vaccines are recommended and provided free under the National Immunisation Programme Schedule in Queensland go to www.vaccinate.initiatives.qld.gov.au/schedule.
If you have questions or concerns about immunisation you can talk to your doctor or your local immunisation provider.
If you need help with English when you talk to them you can use an interpreter by calling 131 450. This service is free.
Australia is one of the safest countries in the world when it comes to vaccine preventable diseases. One of the main reasons for this is because Australia has one of the best immunisation programmes in the world.
Remember, immunisation saves lives.
Find out more
For more information about vaccination, contact your health provider or call 13 HEALTH(13 43 25 84) .
Find an vaccination provider
- Call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
- Use HealthDirect’s free service finder
- Call the National Immunisation Hotline on 1800 671 811
Information in your language
You can find information about vaccination in your language on the Queensland Government website.