Immunisation can protect a pregnant woman and her unborn baby from infectious diseases. Some infectious diseases can cause serious harm to pregnant women or their unborn babies.
Ideally, women would be up to date with their immunisations before they become pregnant.
Immunisations during pregnancy
Recommended immunisations should be offered as soon as eligible to help ensure optimal protection. However, if an immunisation is missed at the recommended time, it can still be given later. Every effort should be made to identify and support those who have missed immunisations, and all immunisations can be safely given on the same day.
Pertussis (whooping cough) immunisation is recommended during pregnancy, between 20-32 weeks gestation. Immunisation is recommended in each pregnancy, including those closely spaced, to provide maximum protection to every infant.
If the pertussis immunisation is not administered between the recommended interval of 20–32 weeks, it can be given after 32 weeks. If it is administered between 13 and 20 weeks, it does not need to be readministered. Pertussis immunisation comes as combination diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis formulation.
Influenza immunisation is recommended during each pregnancy, at any stage of pregnancy. If the previous year’s seasonal influenza immunisation was given early in pregnancy it is recommended to receive the current seasonal influenza immunisation (when it becomes available) later in the same pregnancy. If an influenza immunisation was given before becoming pregnant re-immunisation is recommended during pregnancy to protect the unborn infant. All recommended immunisations during pregnancy can safely be given on the same day.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunisation is recommended during pregnancy from 28 weeks gestation (ideally before 36 weeks) to protect the infant from birth for up to 6 months.
Abrysvo is the only RSV immunisation approved for use during pregnancy. If the RSV immunisation is administered before 28 weeks, it does not need to be readministered. If immunisation was within two weeks of the baby being born, the baby may not be adequately protected and may be eligible for nirsevimab at birth.
For more information refer to Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Program.
Nirsevimab (monoclonal antibody) is recommended at birth only for infants with high-risk medical conditions or who were not protected by RSV immunisation administered during pregnancy (i.e. immunisation not given; birthing occurred within 2 weeks of vaccination; mother with severe immunocompromise; infant received exchange transfusion; etc). Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook RSV chapter and your local health authority for recommendations for nirsevimab use in infants, as well as information about eligibility and availability
Find out more about the Queensland Paediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Program.
COVID-19
A primary course is recommended for those who are unvaccinated. Further doses are not routinely recommended for those who are healthy and previously immunised. A further dose is recommended for those who have been previously immunised with severe immunocompromise and can be considered for those who have been previously immunised
