Midwife urges expectant mums to have free flu jab to protect themselves and their babies

Lucy Pryde, who is part of the smoking in pregnancy team at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, warned that without the protection the vaccine gives, pregnant women could put both themselves and their babies at risk of serious complications associated with flu.

“As a midwife, I have my flu jab each year and I have always encouraged my patients to get theirs too - it is so very important,” she said.

“There is a common misconception the influenza vaccine can give you the flu, but it isn’t an active vaccine, so this simply is not true.” 

Pregnancy naturally weakens the body’s immune system and as a result, flu can cause problems which could include premature birth or the baby having a low birth weight. 

Flu vaccination in pregnancy means that flu antibodies are transferred through the placenta to the baby, which gives the baby some protection against it for the first few months of life. 

Lucy has two more reasons which makes getting her flu jab even more important this year \_ she is pregnant with twins!

“Although I am usually fit and healthy, I just wouldn’t want to take the risk and I would encourage other mums-to-be to get their vaccines, too,” she said.

“However fit and healthy you might feel, if you’re pregnant you need the free flu vaccine, now. It’s the safest way to protect you and your baby against the virus.”

Dr Tracey Cooper, regional chief midwife for the NHS North East and Yorkshire, said women could receive flu jabs at any stage of their pregnancy and it helped to prevent serious complications both for mother and baby. 

She added: “There is strong evidence that pregnant women have a higher risk of serious illness as a result of flu compared with the general population. 

“The risks are highest in the last three months of pregnancy and studies have shown women who have been vaccinated against flu are less likely to give birth prematurely and less likely to have a low birth weight baby.”

Pregnant women should ask their pharmacist, GP or midwife about the free flu vaccine.

Due to Covid-19, staff giving the vaccine will be wearing protective equipment.