Flu and RSV vaccines in pregnancy: when to have each one this autumn

Quick answer: Have the flu vaccine as soon as it's offered this autumn. You can have it at any stage of pregnancy. Have the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks, ideally around your 28-week antenatal appointment. If you're already 28 weeks or more, you can have both at the same appointment.

What parents need to know

Each vaccine has its own timing. Flu jabs are seasonal and run from autumn to the end of March. The RSV vaccine is given all year round, so when you have it depends on how many weeks pregnant you are. If your baby is due this winter, their first months will fall during the RSV peak, because cases peak every winter.

The UK Health Security Agency says around 20,000 babies are admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis each year in England. In babies, RSV is a common cause of bronchiolitis. Both vaccines help protect your baby as well as you.

When to have each vaccine in pregnancy

Three vaccines are recommended during pregnancy. Each has its own best window, so it helps to know which ones you've had and which are still to come.

How each vaccine protects your newborn

Flu vaccine

Pregnancy weakens your immune system. That's why the NHS says pregnant women are more likely to get complications from flu, such as pneumonia, and more likely to be admitted to hospital. The vaccine makes flu less likely, and if you do catch it, it's likely to be milder.

The NHS flu vaccine page says the vaccine also protects your baby during the first few months after birth. It can take up to 14 days to start working, so having it early in the season covers you before flu starts spreading widely.

RSV vaccine

Your body makes extra antibodies after the vaccine, and they pass through the placenta. This protects your baby from the day they're born. UKHSA guidance says the vaccine lowers the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first 6 months. After 6 months, the risk of severe RSV is much lower.

Having it at 28 weeks, or within a few weeks of that, gives you time to build up antibodies before birth, which protects your baby even if they arrive early. You can still have it later, but it may be less effective. Very late in pregnancy, it can still protect you and make it less likely you'll pass RSV to your newborn.

Can you have flu and RSV vaccines at the same appointment?

Yes. The NHS confirms that during pregnancy you can have the RSV vaccine at the same time as the flu and whooping cough vaccines. If you haven't had flu or whooping cough vaccines by the time you're called for RSV, UKHSA advises having them together.

Don't hold one back so you can have them together, though. The NHS advises having each vaccine as soon as it's offered. If you're 16 weeks pregnant in October, have the flu jab now rather than waiting until 28 weeks.

How to book each vaccine

Flu and RSV vaccines are free on the NHS during pregnancy. You book them in different ways.

1. Book your flu vaccine. Book online or in the NHS App, find a pharmacy that offers free flu vaccines, or contact your GP surgery. Some maternity services also give it
2. Wait for your RSV offer. Your maternity service should offer it around your 28-week antenatal appointment
3. Chase it if needed. If you're 28 weeks or more and haven't been offered the RSV vaccine, contact your maternity service or GP surgery
4. Check local pharmacies. Some pharmacies in Essex and Suffolk, Lancashire and Merseyside, Leicestershire and the West Midlands, and London also offer the RSV vaccine

Side effects and safety

Side effects from both vaccines are usually mild and last a day or two. After the flu jab, you may have a sore arm, an aching body or a slightly raised temperature. After the RSV vaccine, you may have a sore, red or swollen arm, a headache or an aching body. Flu vaccines given by injection in the UK don't contain live virus, so they can't give you flu. The NHS says the only reason you can't have the flu vaccine or the RSV vaccine is a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or to an ingredient in the vaccine.

Clinical trials of the RSV vaccine included almost 4,000 women. Monitoring of more than 300,000 vaccinated women in the USA has shown a good safety profile. In the main trial, in the month after vaccination, slightly more babies were born early in the vaccine group (2.1%) than in the unvaccinated group (1.9%). UKHSA says this difference is most likely due to chance. You can report suspected side effects to the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme online or by calling 0800 731 6789.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still have the vaccines if I have a cold?

If you have a high temperature, wait until you feel better, then contact your GP surgery, pharmacy or maternity service to rearrange. NHS advice only mentions a high temperature as a reason to wait. The only reason the NHS gives for not having the flu vaccine or the RSV vaccine at all is a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or an ingredient.

Will I need the RSV vaccine again in a future pregnancy?

Yes. The NHS recommends it in every pregnancy so that each baby is protected for their first 6 months.

Is it safe to breastfeed after the flu vaccine?

Yes. The NHS says it's safe to breastfeed whether you had the flu vaccine during pregnancy or have it while breastfeeding.

Could my baby still get RSV after I've had the vaccine?

It's possible, because no vaccine is fully effective. UKHSA says that for most babies whose mums were vaccinated, any RSV infection should be less severe. Babies at higher risk, such as those born very early or with severe heart disease, may also be offered an antibody injection for extra protection.