Pregnancy vaccination has led to a significant decrease in the hospitalisations and deaths of Australian infants from diseases like whooping cough and influenza.  In fact, Australia now reports some of the highest pregnancy vaccination rates in the world – something we can all be very proud of!

Globally, these diseases still kill a huge number of children.  According to the World Health organisation (WHO) there are an estimated 160 700 deaths from whooping cough in children under 5 each year, and up to 100 000 deaths from influenza in children under 5 each year. 

Many of these deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries, many of which could be prevented with access to pregnancy vaccination.

We can all play a role in protecting infants from whooping cough, influenza, and other vaccine-preventable diseases by talking to our pregnant friends and family members about the importance of pregnancy vaccination.

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It is important for all adults to be up to date on their vaccines, but this is especially important for people who are around babies.

Some vaccines, such as the whooping cough vaccine, are particularly important for adults to get if they are around babies. This is because adults can pass the infection on to babies, even if they do not get sick themselves.

Adults around babies should get a whooping cough vaccine at least every 10 years and a flu vaccine every year.

It takes about 2 weeks for the whooping cough vaccine to be fully effective, and about 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to be fully effective.  This means that adults should get vaccinated at least 2 weeks before being around a baby, to give their immune system time to build up protection.

Staying  up-to-date on your own vaccines is a great way to help protect babies and vulnerable people from serious infections.  You can check if your vaccines are up to date by talking with your GP, pharmacist or accessing your Immunisation History Statement via the Express Plus Medicare app.

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Whooping cough can be a serious illness for babies, especially those under 6 months old. In fact, about half of babies under 6 months of age who contract whooping cough require hospitalisation.

Young babies with whooping cough often experience uncontrollable coughing fits that can last for several minutes. These coughing fits can make it difficult for babies to breathe and can cause them to turn blue. Whooping cough can also cause babies to vomit and to have difficulty feeding.

Other complications of whooping cough in young babies include pneumonia, apnea (pauses in breathing that last for more than 20 seconds), and seizures. Whooping cough can also damage the brain, leading to long-term problems such as learning disabilities and developmental delays.  In some cases, whooping cough will lead to death.

Fortunately, the whooping cough vaccine is very effective at protecting babies from whooping cough. . In a recent Australian study of over 250 000 pregnant women who were vaccinated against whooping cough, their babies were 70% less likely to get whooping cough in the first few months of life compared to the babies of mothers who didn’t have the vaccine in pregnancy.

The whooping cough vaccine is safe, effective and free for pregnant women. It is given as a single injection during pregnancy, usually between 20 and 32 weeks.

If you are pregnant, please talk to your GP, obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against whooping cough. It is the best way to protect your baby from this serious illness.

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Influenza (flu) can be a serious illness for pregnant women and their babies. It can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight.

Babies cannot be vaccinated for influenza themselves until they are six months old, so a pregnancy vaccine helps provide them some protection  during those first few vulnerable months.  A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia found that babies whose mothers received the flu vaccine during pregnancy were 72% less likely to be hospitalised with influenza.

The flu vaccine is safe, effective and free for pregnant women. It is given as a single injection during pregnancy, usually during the “flu season”.

If you are pregnant, please talk to your GP, obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against flu. It is the best way to protect yourself and your baby from this serious illness.

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Pregnant women with COVID-19 are more likely to get seriously ill than non-pregnant women of the same age with COVID-19. This means they are more likely to need to be admitted to hospital, or even to an intensive care unit (ICU), and to need help breathing (invasive ventilation).

COVID-19 during pregnancy can also cause complications for the baby, such as stillbirth and premature birth.

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective and free for pregnant women. A United States study of more than 35,000 pregnant women showed no difference in side effects between those who were pregnant and those who were not. Women who were pregnant did not show any unique side effects.  A recent Canadian study showed that infants born to a mother who had a COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy had a lower risk of severe health problems after birth, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission, and death.

If you are pregnant, please talk to your GP, obstetrician, midwife or pharmacist about getting vaccinated against COVID-19. It is the best way to protect yourself and your baby from this serious illness.

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Good news! RSV immunisations to protect infants and pregnant women are now rolling out across the country. Speak to your antenatal healthcare provider or GP to find out more about how you can protect yourself and your baby.

For additional information and prevention tips, visit our Unite Against RSV page. Remember, simple steps like avoiding sick people, washing your hands often, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can also help protect you and your baby from RSV and other infections.

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