During pregnancy, there are vaccinations that are particularly recommended to protect you, your baby or both.
We are happy to advise you on the recommended vaccinations and administer them directly at our surgery.
Influenza can be more severe during pregnancy than in women who are not pregnant. Pregnant women are therefore part of a high-risk group for severe cases.
A flu infection can lead, amongst other things, to:
.
The flu vaccination primarily protects the mother from a severe course of the illness.
The vaccination is available throughout pregnancy and is recommended during the flu season.
In our practice, we usually administer the flu vaccination from 16+0 weeks of pregnancy.
We vaccinate during the season from:
September to June
In July and August, we do not administer flu vaccinations.
As flu viruses change every year, there is a new vaccine for each season. We usually receive the vaccines for the new season at the end of September.
As a result, a pregnant woman may be vaccinated in two consecutive flu seasons if, for example, she was vaccinated in the previous season and is still pregnant during the autumn/winter of the same pregnancy.
The flu vaccination is covered by statutory and private health insurance schemes.
The vaccination is very well tolerated during pregnancy. Serious side effects are rare.
Whooping cough can be dangerous for newborns, as young babies do not yet have sufficient immunity from vaccination themselves.
Vaccination during pregnancy primarily protects your baby in the first few months of life, as maternal antibodies are passed on via the placenta.
This can significantly reduce the risk of severe whooping cough in the newborn.
We recommend routine pertussis vaccination during the third trimester; at our practice, this is usually around the 28th week of pregnancy.
The vaccination can also be administered at a later stage if necessary.
Important:
The vaccination is recommended during every pregnancy – regardless of when the last pertussis vaccination was given.
The pertussis vaccination is covered by statutory and private health insurance schemes.
The vaccination has been extensively studied and is well tolerated during pregnancy. Common reactions may include mild pain at the injection site or temporary discomfort.
Not only the mother, but also close carers should be up to date with their pertussis vaccination.
These include, in particular:
A booster vaccination is recommended if the last pertussis vaccination was more than 10 years ago.
We are also happy to offer these vaccinations to family members directly at our surgery.
Your father or grandparents can simply come along with you to the appointment and bring their vaccination card with them.
If you have any questions about vaccinations during pregnancy, we would be happy to discuss them with you in person.