Is the flu jab safe during pregnancy?
It's recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine
Seeing as children’s flu vaccines aren’t typically offered until 2+ years, getting a flu jab during pregnancy is your best chance at protecting you and your baby from the nasty symptoms of seasonal flu.
Not only that, but pregnancy instantly puts you into a higher risk category when it comes to contracting the flu virus. That means if you catch the flu when pregnant, you’re more likely to experience complications such as bronchitis, which – if left untreated - can then develop into pneumonia, and ultimately put your baby’s life at risk.
Why the NHS recommends flu vaccines for pregnant women
Even if you haven’t had flu before and feel like your immune system is strong, it’s still a good idea to get the flu vaccine during pregnancy. Your organs have to make room for your baby which means your lungs have less room to function, which means less blood and oxygen is circulating, and that makes it harder for your body to fight infections. In simple terms, having a weakened immune system during pregnancy means you’re more likely to catch the virus, and symptoms are likely to be more severe than if you weren’t pregnant.
How to get the flu vaccine when you're pregnant
Free flu jabs during pregnancy are available via the NHS in England and Wales. The good news is, you don’t even have to go through the hassle of booking a GP appointment! You can simply book with us online and find an appointment at your nearest Well Pharmacy, making it super easy and convenient. Alternatively, our pharmacies will be open for walk-ins from September to March – just pop into your local Well to request a flu vaccine.
How far into pregnancy should you get the flu jab?
It’s safe to get the flu jab at any stage of pregnancy, whether you’re on the cusp of your due date or just a few weeks along – so don’t worry if you’ve already had your flu vaccine and didn’t realise you were pregnant.
Flu jabs are typically available from September each year, and as it can take around two weeks after receiving the vaccine for your body to build up protection, you’re always better getting this as soon as you can. You can book your appointment now at your local Well Pharmacy.
What are the side effects of getting the flu jab during pregnancy?
There are different kinds of flu vaccine, but the common injection kind (as opposed to the nasal spray often used on children) uses an inactive form of the flu virus. When pregnant, you should opt for a flu vaccine that uses the inactive virus, as opposed to a weakened form of the live virus like the nasal spray uses. Typical flu jab injections will use this anyway, but you can always check with your pharmacist if you’re unsure.
It’s important to remember that regardless of the type of flu vaccine, none of them can make you ill. You might experience mild symptoms that make you feel a bit under the weather, but this doesn’t mean you’ve actually contracted an illness or that the vaccine has given you the flu.
Side effects of the flu jab during pregnancy will be the same mild side effects to expect from any flu jab:
- Aching muscles
- Fever
- Soreness or bruising where you had the injection
Lots of people experience no side effects at all, but if you do, these should pass after a few days, and you won’t be putting your baby at risk.
The flu vaccine has been safely administered to millions of pregnant women worldwide and is a trusted, effective way to help protect against serious flu-related complications during pregnancy. Extensive research shows that the vaccine is safe at every stage of pregnancy, from the first trimester through to labour. Vaccination during pregnancy also helps pass protective antibodies to your baby, providing valuable protection during their first few months of life when they are most vulnerable to flu. The flu vaccine is also safe for women who are breastfeeding, whether they received the vaccine during pregnancy or are having it while breastfeeding.
- Mital Thakrar, Head of Private Services
Flu jab during pregnancy FAQs
Yes, it’s absolutely safe to get the flu vaccine for pregnant women – in fact, it’s recommended by the NHS! Pregnancy causes changes in your body which can weaken your immune system, putting you at higher risk of contracting the flu virus and experiencing more severe symptoms as a result.
If you do get the flu jab when you’re pregnant, then any mild side effects you experience will be no more severe than what you’d experience if you weren’t pregnant. Even if you do start to feel a bit under the weather after your vaccine, you aren’t putting your baby at risk.
This service is something that we are looking into, stay tuned for updates.
If you’re pregnant and think you might have the flu, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible. Try not to panic, there is a prescribed medicine that can help reduce your risk of complications, but it’s important to take this as soon as symptoms appear – so get in touch with your doctor as soon as you start to suspect you might have the virus.
The flu vaccine and breastfeeding
Once baby is here, don’t worry – the flu jab remains safe and effective for breastfeeding mums. In fact, antibodies can actually be transferred through breast milk, which can help provide ongoing protection for your little one.
The Flu Jab in Pregnancy, published on NHS website, last reviewed September 2022.