Vaccination during pregnancy offers vital protection for mothers and babies

Pregnant women are being urged to get vaccinated against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Whooping cough (pertussis) and flu to help protect themselves and their babies from serious illness ahead of winter.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) is encouraging women to take up the free vaccines available to them and is continuing to offer vaccinations through dedicated maternity immunisation hubs at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

The vaccines are safe, effective and recommended during pregnancy, helping to reduce the risk of complications for mothers and providing important protection for babies during their first months of life. Across England, there has been a 50% drop in newborn intensive care admission recorded in the first full year of the RSV maternal vaccine programme.

Vaccinations are available without an appointment at:

• John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford – Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, and Saturday, 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 routine antenatal care, and anyone with questions is encouraged to speak to their midwife or GP.

Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against:

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – available all year round between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

• Whooping cough (pertussis) – available all year round from 16 weeks of pregnancy.

• Flu – available at any point during pregnancy but only from September to March.

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

This winter marks the third seasonal vaccination campaign supported by the maternity immunisation hubs, which were introduced to make it easier for women to access recommended vaccinations alongside their maternity care.

The OUH maternity immunisation team delivered more than 5,000 vaccinations in the September 2025 to March 2026 winter vaccination programme.

Amanda Lee, Matron for Maternity Public Health at OUH, said: "Vaccination during pregnancy is one of the most effective ways to protect both mothers and babies from serious respiratory infections. These vaccines have been carefully tested, are routinely recommended, and help provide protection at a time when women and newborn babies can be particularly vulnerable.

"Our maternity immunisation hubs make it easy for women to get vaccinated at a time and place that works for them, whether they are attending an appointment or dropping in. We would encourage every eligible woman to speak to their midwife and take up the vaccines recommended during pregnancy."

Find out more about vaccinations during pregnancy on the NHS website.