Rose's Story: Measles changed her life forever

Aabi's Story: A Life Interrupted by Influenza

When a pregnant woman is vaccinated, she passes antibodies to her baby through the placenta. This helps to protect the baby from infection for the first few months of their life, until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.

For example, the whooping cough pregnancy 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.

If contracted during pregnancy, whooping cough can lead to insomnia, incontinence, broken ribs and a range of other painful complications.  By vaccinating for whooping cough during pregnancy, Mum receives important protection too – it’s a two-for-one deal!

The flu vaccine in pregnancy is also effective at protecting both mothers and babies from flu.  Research shows the risk of stillbirth is reduced by 51% in pregnant people who are immunised against influenza, and that babies were less likely to be hospitalised with influenza in their first year of life if Mum had a flu vaccine during pregnancy. 

Pregnant people who contract influenza are at a higher risk of hospitalisation and death than non-pregnant people, and are at increased risk of serious problems such as premature labour and birth.  Fortunately, influenza vaccination during pregnancy reduces these risks for both Mum and baby.

Getting a COVID vaccine during pregnancy helps protect the mother from serious illness, hospitalisation, and death from COVID-19, and also helps protect the baby from infection in the first few months of life.

Pregnancy vaccination is a win-win for both mum and baby, providing essential protection against serious diseases.

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An incredible amount of research has been done to ensure that pregnancy vaccination is safe and effective.

This research has been conducted by governments, universities, pharmaceutical companies and independent research organisations.

Huge observational studies, clinical trials and systematic reviews from a range of countries around the world all confirm that pregnancy vaccination is safe, effective and important.

Pregnancy vaccines have also been approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which is the Australian government body that regulates medical products.  The TGA considers the safety, quality and efficacy of every ingredient in a vaccine before a vaccine is registered for use in Australia.

The safety of pregnancy vaccines are actively monitored by AusVaxSafety, Australia’s active vaccine safety monitoring system, with no safety concerns identified.

Did You Know?

• The whooping cough vaccine has been given to pregnant women in Australia for nearly ten years, and there have been no serious safety concerns.

• The flu vaccine is given to millions of pregnant women around the world each year, and it has been shown to be safe and effective.

• The COVID-19 vaccine has also been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant women.

If you have any concerns about the safety of pregnancy vaccines, please talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician. They can help you to understand the risks and benefits of vaccination and make the best decision for you and your baby.

Pregnancy vaccines are free for all pregnant women in Australia as part of our routine National Immunisation Program. They are recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which is the Australian government body that advises on immunisation policy.

Pregnancy vaccines are recommended because they are safe and effective, and they provide important protection for both pregnant mothers and their babies.

The whooping cough vaccine is free and recommended during weeks 20 - 32 of each pregnancy, delivered in a combined injection that also provides protection against diphtheria and tetanus. 

The influenza vaccine can be given at any time during pregnancy, preferably before the onset of the influenza season.

Pregnant mums can get a COVID booster at any time during pregnancy, but it is recommended to wait at least 6 months after their last COVID vaccine or infection, whichever is more recent.

Pregnancy vaccines are safe to be administered at the same time, and are available at many GP clinics, immunisation clinics, pharmacies and antenatal hospitals.  Speak with your antenatal care provider to find out your most convenient location.

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.

Newborn babies are vulnerable to infectious diseases, because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

Whooping cough in newborn babies is extremely dangerous. It can cause severe coughing fits that make it difficult for the baby to breathe. Whooping cough can also lead to pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage. Newborn babies are too young to be vaccinated against whooping cough, so they rely on their mother's antibodies for protection until old enough  for their own vaccines.

Influenza in newborn babies can be very serious, even life-threatening. It can cause difficulty breathing, pneumonia, and dehydration. Newborn babies are especially vulnerable to influenza because they have not yet had a chance to develop antibodies against the virus, unless their mother was vaccinated in pregnancy.

COVID in newborn babies can also be serious, although it is generally less so than influenza. However, COVID-19 can still cause breathing problems, pneumonia, and other serious complications in newborn babies. Newborn babies are at increased risk of COVID-19 if their mother is infected with the virus during pregnancy or childbirth.

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.

Shiva Motlagh-Elbakri's nightmare began in June 2022 when she took her four-month-old daughter, Mytilini, to the hospital with grave concerns.

Mabel was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, which had caused severe damage to her brain. 

In late August 2024, 52-year-old Heidi Duckworth faced an unexpected health scare. A busy professional, Heidi had always prioritised her health, but as fatigue set in she began scheduling rest breaks during her workday. 

In a quiet Adelaide suburb, Deborah Smith, a 72-year-old retired nurse, finds herself battling the lingering effects of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) six years after the infection.

As a former nurse, Deborah was no stranger to health challenges. However, nothing could have prepared her for the debilitating impact of severe RSV.

In June 2022, mother-of-three Kellie Damon noticed her 13-month son Owen was unusually quiet and still.

For a baby who was always on the go, Kellie was concerned, especially when she noticed how pale he looked. Something wasn’t right.

When Marie Compagnon bought home newborn Elio during the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, the family did what they could to protect him.

Santanna’s second child Rebel was only four weeks old when she caught RSV from her two-year-old brother in July 2023.

By day three of cold-like symptoms, baby Rebel took a turn for the worse and was rushed to Monash Children’s Hospital.

The source of the virus a mystery, baby Flynn started exhibiting classic cold-like symptoms including a runny nose and slight cough. After two days, when Flynn’s cough had deteriorated to alarming bouts of breath-holding, Kiara became very worried.

In May 2023, when Megan Behn’s three-month old baby Xavier developed a blocked nose, little did she know it was the first sign of an illness that would result in a five-day hospital stay.

Lisa Loader from Adelaide is on a mission to raise awareness of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) after experiencing a terrifying ordeal that left her battling for life.

In this issue, we delve into a topic of utmost importance to expectant mothers and their little ones - Pregnancy Vaccination. As the adage goes, ‘Prevention is better than cure’, and there’s no better time to embody this than during pregnancy. Our focus is to enlighten you about the significance of vaccinations in safeguarding both mother and baby from preventable diseases. Read on to discover key facts about pregnancy vaccination, its safety, effectiveness, and the endorsement it receives from leading health organisations worldwide. Let’s embark on this journey to ensure a healthy pregnancy and a safe environment for your baby.