Pregnant women urged to get vaccinations

Pregnant women are encouraged to get four types of vaccination to better protect themselves and their baby ahead of the winter months.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough (pertussis), COVID-19, and flu injections are all recommended during pregnancy.

Women can get their vaccinations at one of two newly-created dedicated drop-in maternity immunisation hubs being run on a permanent basis at the John Radcliffe (Monday to Saturday, Level 4, Women's Centre) and Horton General (Monday to Friday, Midwifery-led Unit, along the Postnatal corridor) hospitals.

The hubs are open 9am-5pm, and women can get their vaccinations when they attend hospital for their antenatal appointments. There is no need to book.

The RSV vaccine (to be given between 28 weeks to 36 weeks) is being rolled out for the first time from September 2024 and is available at both maternity immunisation hubs. 

Alongside this, the whooping cough vaccine (from 16 weeks pregnant) and both the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (offered at any point during pregnancy) are also available.

Information about vaccinations should be provided at antenatal appointments. If unsure about the vaccines or how to get them, pregnant women should speak to their midwife or GP for further advice.

Vaccinations during pregnancy are important because a women’s immune system – the body's natural defence – is weakened to protect the pregnancy, meaning they are less able to fight off infections.

All of the vaccines are inactive, which means they do not contain a live version of the virus it is protecting against, and they cannot give the mother or the baby the virus.