Download Talk to your GP about immunisation protection

Talk to your GP about immunisation protection
Immunisation can protect you, your unborn
baby and your newborn against some infectious
diseases. These diseases can cause serious
harm to you and your baby.
Immunisation uses the body’s natural defences
– its immune response – to build resistance
to specific infections. It is important you
discuss immunisation with your GP early
in your pregnancy.
What diseases can my baby
and l be protected against?
BEFORE pregnancy...
Measles, mumps and rubella
(MMR, which includes German measles)
If you were born after 1965 you may be
under-immunised against these diseases.
Rubella infection during pregnancy can cause
serious birth defects in a newborn baby.
It is important to have a rubella blood test before
each pregnancy to check that your protection
is still adequate. It is recommended you wait
four weeks after receiving the MMR vaccine
before trying to get pregnant.
Pertussis (whooping cough) – Boostrix
Parents, grandparents, carers and babies
can all be protected from whooping cough.
Babies younger than six months or who
have not yet received their third set of infant
immunisations are most at risk of serious
disease and death from whooping cough.
The whooping cough vaccine also protects
against diphtheria and tetanus.
Varicella (chickenpox)
If you cannot remember if you have had
chickenpox, a blood test will show if you
need to be immunised. Chickenpox infection
in pregnancy can cause severe illness in you
and your unborn baby.
It is recommended you wait four weeks after
receiving the varicella vaccine before trying
to get pregnant.
DURING pregnancy...
Influenza (flu)
Flu is a serious disease and pregnancy is
known to increase the risk of complications
from flu infection.
Flu immunisation is especially recommended
for pregnant women because they are at higher
risk of severe complications.
The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women
at any stage in the pregnancy, including in
the first trimester.
Pertussis
A Boostrix vaccination is currently
recommended from the third trimester,
even if you have had one before pregnancy.
Vaccinating against flu and whooping cough
during pregnancy also protects your baby
during the first vulnerable months of life.
AFTER pregnancy...
If you did not receive these vaccines before
or during pregnancy, you can have them after
your baby has been born.
A Boostrix vaccination to prevent whooping
cough is still valuable after pregnancy –
please discuss with your GP.
Other immunisations may be recommended
by your GP.
Is flu immunisation safe
during pregnancy?
Yes. The Australian National Health and Medical
Research Council actively encourage flu immunisation
during pregnancy and regard it as a safe vaccine to
be administered before, during and after pregnancy.
This includes seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccines.
If I have recently been
immunised do I need
to wait to get pregnant?
What about fathers,
grandparents and others
who care for my baby?
It is recommended you wait for four weeks after
receiving the MMR or varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
before trying to get pregnant. However, it is unlikely
there will be any problems. Talk to your GP if you
are concerned. Women should not receive MMR
or varicella vaccines if they are already pregnant.
Recent studies have shown over half of
Australian babies hospitalised with whooping
cough caught it from their parents.
Is it safe to get immunised
while breastfeeding?
Immunising parents, grandparents and carers
reduces the chance of passing the disease
on to newborn babies.
Yes. All the vaccines listed in this brochure
are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers.
What about my baby?
It is recommended all babies be immunised
as instructed by the National Immunisation
Program which starts at birth.
Need to know more?
Immunise Australia
immunise.health.gov.au
National Centre for Immunisation
Research & Surveillance
ncirs.edu.au
Mercy Hospital for Women
mercyhealth.com.au
North East Valley Division of General Practice
nevdgp.org.au
Acknowledging the assistance and permissions provided
by the ACT Division of General Practice.
P1584 09/15
Whooping cough and flu immunisation is
strongly recommended for all people who care
for your baby, to reduce the risk of infection.
It is safe for them to have these vaccines while
you are pregnant. Other vaccines may also be
important and advised by your GP.
The importance
of immunisation
mercyhealth.com.au