If you are planning to become pregnant, then it is useful to know if you are protected against measles, rubella, and chicken pox, as these vaccines cannot be given in pregnancy and all three diseases can cause harm to your pregnancy.
There are three vaccines that are recommended for people who are pregnant. They are the whooping cough, influenza (flu), and Covid-19 vaccines. All three are safe in pregnancy, fully funded for pregnant people, and will help protect both you and your baby from these illnesses.
The whooping cough vaccine is recommended from 16 weeks of pregnancy for all pregnancies (ideally from 16-26 weeks) – so even if you had a baby recently, it is recommended to have it again. This is because, while the vaccine only affects your body, the immunity passes through to your baby each time you have this immunisation and protects them until they can have their first vaccinations at 6 weeks old. Whooping cough is very serious for babies under 12 months, and more than half of those who catch it will need to be treated in hospital.
The flu vaccine is primarily for the hapū person, as you are more at risk of serious complications from the flu if you are pregnant. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight for babies of parents who catch the flu in pregnancy. The flu vaccine is fully funded for pregnant people, and can be administered at any stage of pregnancy. Flu vaccines are usually available between April and the end of December each year.
The Covid-19 vaccine is also recommended in pregnancy if you have not had a booster or an infection in the past 6 months. Covid-19 can make pregnant people very unwell, and the vaccine also gives some protection to baby after they are born.