The flu shot and pregnancy

Getting the flu during pregnancy poses risks for both you and your unborn child. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones this flu season is with a flu vaccination.

While the flu is always unpleasant, with symptoms including fever, body aches and fatigue, most healthy people will recover without any serious or long-term side effects.

But for some groups, the flu is more dangerous. This includes children under the age of 5, the elderly and people who are pregnant.

The flu (influenza) virus can be dangerous if you're pregnant due to a compromised and weakened immune system and changes in your heart and lung function.¹

This can increase the risk of a flu infection causing complications, which may lead to hospitalisation and serious illness, such as pneumonia.

"Being pregnant puts you at a higher risk for severe flu and disease," says Bupa GP Dr Janice Tan. "This might include going into respiratory distress, needing to get intubation to be able to breathe, and not being able to oxygenate your body properly because of the amount of inflammation in the lungs. Getting severe flu during pregnancy compromises your health and the pregnancy itself."

Getting a flu vaccination during pregnancy can help reduce your risk of contracting the virus, and can also help protect your newborn child up to the age of 6 months.²

Yes, says Dr Tan. "The flu shot is absolutely safe and highly recommended for both you and your baby."

"Yes, the flu shot is safe and effective throughout a whole pregnancy, but getting the shot earlier is better as it provides that protection straight away," says Dr Tan.

The flu vaccination does not contain live virus, so it will not give you the flu. Some people may experience mild side effects (such as fever or muscle aches), but these usually pass within a few days.²

After a flu shot, protective antibodies are passed from you to your unborn child during pregnancy, helping to keep your baby safer from infection.²

"This is important as children under the age of 6 months cannot get a flu shot," says Dr Tan. "The best way to protect a new baby is for you to be vaccinated. Those same antibodies that pass through the placenta are also in breast milk, so if you've been vaccinated and are breastfeeding, that also helps to protect the baby."²

Protecting yourself during pregnancy means protecting your baby, too. If you have any questions or concerns about getting the flu shot in pregnancy, talk to your GP.