Pregnant women encouraged to get vaccinated

Oxford University Hospitals is marking the first anniversary of its drop-in maternity immunisation hubs by encouraging more pregnant women to get vaccinated and better protect themselves and their babies ahead of winter.

Since launching in September 2024, the hubs at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury have delivered more than 6,000 vaccinations to more than 3,000 women – a milestone in improving access to vital vaccines during pregnancy.

Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough (pertussis), and flu ahead of the winter months. These vaccines are safe, effective, and help protect both mother and baby from potentially serious infections.

• The RSV vaccine is available all year round between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
• The whooping cough vaccine is also available all year round from 16 weeks of pregnancy.
• The flu vaccine is available at any point during pregnancy but only from September to March.

Following national guidance, the COVID-19 vaccination will not be offered to pregnant women this year. This has been decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Some women may be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine if they have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment. This would be provided under the direction of their local GP service.

Vaccinations are available without an appointment at:

• John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford – Monday to Friday at 9am–5pm, and Saturday at 9am-4pm, Level 4, Women's Centre
• Horton General Hospital, Banbury – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am–5pm, Midwifery-led Unit, Postnatal corridor

Women can receive their vaccinations when attending antenatal appointments or drop in during opening hours. Information about vaccinations is provided during antenatal care, and anyone with questions should to speak to their midwife or GP.

Vaccination during pregnancy is especially important because the immune system naturally weakens to support the pregnancy, making women more vulnerable to infections.

All vaccines offered are inactive, meaning they do not contain live viruses and cannot cause illness in either mother or baby.

Amanda Lee, Matron for Maternity Public Health at OUH, said: "We are incredibly proud of the impact our immunisation hubs have had in their first year. Making vaccinations easy and accessible has helped many women protect themselves and their babies from serious illness.

"We want every pregnant woman to feel confident about getting vaccinated – it's safe, it's free, and it's one of the best ways to stay healthy during pregnancy."

Find out more about vaccinations in pregnancy on the NHS website: Vaccinations in pregnancy - NHS