During your pregnancy, you may be faced with the choice whether or not to have a particular vaccination. The choice is always up to you. Below you will find background information which can help you to make a choice.
The Whooping Cough (Pertussis) vaccine
The whooping cough vaccine reduces the risks that your baby will get whooping cough in the first 3 months after birth. It is important you read this following information carefully. Here you can read all the relevant information about the vaccine. This information can help you to make a well-informed decision. The vaccine is part of the Dutch National Immunisation Programme and therefore it’s for free.
Safety and side effects
The whooping cough vaccination has been found to be safe in pregnancy. As with any vaccination, you may experience side effects. Examples include drowsiness, headache and reactions at the spot where you were pricked (redness, thick or painful arm). These side effects are usually quite mild and go away by themselves. Serious side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction, are very rare.
It is possible to get the vaccines during an introduction appointment with the JGZ. During this appointment you can also discuss what you can expect from them after your child is born. Do you also want to get the influenze vaccination? Both jabs may be administered at the same time. You can make an appointment via this phone number: 030-286 33 00, option 2 or click here for information to make an appointment.
Do you have questions about the whooping cough vaccine, or are you finding it difficult to make a decision? Do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to think with you so that you can make a choice that suits you.
Flu vaccination
During the autumn and winter seasons, it is good to think about getting a flu vaccination. This is because during these seasons, the risk of flu increases and you may be wondering if it is a good idea to get the flu shot. As a pregnant woman, it is important to take good care of yourself during this period. We would therefore like to give you some information about the flu vaccine and what else you can do to prevent the flu.
To start with, a good resistance is essential in fighting bacteria and viruses. To boost your resistance, there are a number of things you can do:
- Wash your hands regularly often with soap and water
- Eat enough fruit and vegetables
- Get enough sleep
- Try to exercise regularly
Being pregnant can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to diseases such as the flu. Moreover, pregnant women can get quite sick from the flu, so it is important to avoid infection with it. A flu vaccine can provide good protection against severe effects of the flu. This vaccination is advised annually to people with diseases or reduced resistance. However, pregnant women are also eligible for the flu vaccine.
Are you 22 weeks or more pregnant between 15 October and 1 March? Then you are eligible for the flu vaccination.
The flu vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself during pregnancy. The flu shot causes your body to produce antibodies against the flu virus, protecting you. Besides protection for yourself, the flu vaccine also offers protection for your baby. In fact, antibodies can also reach your baby via the placenta, so your baby is well protected in the first months after birth.
It is important to read the information about the flu shot carefully. It will help you make a balanced choice. You can read all the relevant information on this page.
Do you also want to get the whooping cough vaccination? Both shots may be administered at the same time. Click here for information to make an appointment.
Please note: if you have a medical indication and were invited for the flu vaccination via your GP in previous years, you will also be notified via your GP this year. You can then simply make an appointment for the flu vaccination via your GP. The appointment can take place before or after 22 weeks of pregnancy.
Side effects and safety
In general, side effects of the flu vaccination are mild and similar to those of people who are not pregnant. You may experience some pain or swelling at the injection site, and sometimes feel a little tired. These side effects are usually short-term and do not harm you or your baby. The flu vaccine is safe during pregnancy and a lot of research has been done on this. There is no increased risk of adverse effects such as miscarriage or birth defects if you get the flu vaccination.
Have you fallen ill anyway?
Have you fallen ill despite all the precautions? Fortunately, with the flu vaccination, the infection often runs mildly. Give your body a rest and drink plenty of water. As with non-pregnants, it is a matter of getting over it. If you have a fever or a high temperature, you should take paracetamol to suppress it. Is your temperature higher than 38.5? Then call the midwife. If the symptoms don’t go away by themselves, also call the midwife or your GP. Do you have questions about the flu shot, or are you finding it difficult to make a decision? Do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to think along with you so that you can make a choice that suits you.
The Covid vaccine
Pregnant women are no longer considered a risk group by default since the Health Council’s recommendation in March 2024.
Pregnant women who are considered a risk group for medical reasons can make an appointment with the GGD themselves via planjeprik.nl.
RSV vaccination
Babies will be offered the RSV vaccination when winter arrives. The risk of RSV infection is highest in winter. After the vaccination, a baby is protected against the RS virus for 6 months. A child can still contract the RS virus, but there is less chance of becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalisation.
Procedure Babies born between October and March receive the vaccination within two weeks of birth.
Babies born between 1 April and September 2025 receive the vaccination in September or October.
(Please note: babies born before 1 April 2025 are not offered the RSV vaccination).
The vaccination against the RS virus is given in the upper leg. Babies receive the vaccination once and only in their first year of life. This is when they are most vulnerable and have the highest risk of hospitalisation due to the RS virus.
Babies in other European countries already receive the vaccination. The number of hospital admissions of babies due to the RS virus has fallen by 80% in those countries.
The RS virus vaccination is an antibody vaccination. This is called immunisation and works differently from a vaccination. With a vaccination, the body has to produce antibodies itself. This can cause side effects. With an antibody vaccination, the body does not have to do this itself. That is why there are almost never any side effects.
RSV vaccination for pregnant women
It is also possible to be vaccinated against the RS virus during pregnancy. The vaccination for babies and the vaccination during pregnancy have never been directly compared in a scientific study. Studies do show that vaccination during pregnancy gives the baby slightly less protection than the vaccination with antibodies given to the baby itself. This is one of the reasons why the Health Council recommends offering all babies a free RSV vaccination and not all pregnant women.
Would you still like to be vaccinated during pregnancy? Then contact your GP or the GGD. You will have to pay for the vaccination yourself. The vaccine is called Abrysvo and costs around £170, excluding any consultation fees. The vaccine is safe and approved. Read more about RSV vaccination during pregnancy here.