BSI launch guide to vaccinations during pregnancy

The British Society for Immunology (BSI) is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand new public guide to vaccinations during pregnancy!

At some of the most important moments in life, having clear, trustworthy information makes all the difference. That’s why our latest guide is designed to empower expectant parents with vital knowledge, answering practical questions and offering reassurance about vaccine safety and effectiveness during pregnancy. The guide features easy-to-understand visual guides that clearly explain how vaccines work and what ingredients they contain, making the information accessible for everyone.

Download the guide to vaccinations during pregnancy here.

Clear answers during pregnancy: what the guide covers

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and change, especially as your immune system adapts to protect both you and your baby. Expectant parents often have questions about which vaccines are offered, how they work, and what they mean for your baby’s health now and after birth.

Developed by the BSI, and endorsed by IMPRINT (the Immunising Pregnant Women and Infants Network), the new guide offers clear, practical information on which vaccines are advised during pregnancy, along with a vaccination schedule recommended by the NHS. The guide also explains when you should receive each vaccine and how additional protection can be passed to your baby through breastfeeding, helping you feel confident about making informed healthcare decisions.

Inside the guide, you'll find:

• How your immune system changes during pregnancy
• Which vaccines the NHS recommends and when to get them
• How vaccines given during pregnancy can protect your baby after birth
• What ingredients are found in vaccines
• Answers to frequently asked questions about safety, ingredients, and side effects

You can also download, print and share our posters, which direct people to our guide – find these on the guide's webpage! They are available in colour and black & white and include the website link and QR code, making them perfect for GP surgeries, pharmacies and places where people will be receiving their vaccinations. 

Why vaccination during pregnancy matters

Getting vaccinated during pregnancy is a vital part of keeping you and your baby safe both during pregnancy and after birth. Understanding how the immune system changes at this time is key to understanding why vaccines are so important. That’s why the new guide stands out as a valuable resource for expectant parents and healthcare professionals supporting them.

Pregnancy doesn’t suppress the immune system, as once thought. Instead, it adapts in complex ways to protect both the parent and baby, and these changes can make pregnant people more vulnerable to certain infections, like flu, which increases the risk of serious complications such as pneumonia or premature birth.

Vaccination during pregnancy helps protect against these risks, and not just for the parent. After vaccination, antibodies are passed through the placenta to the baby, providing vital protection in the first few months of life when their own immune system is still developing.

Dr Viki Male, BSI Member and Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Immunology at Imperial College London, said:

"Vaccination during pregnancy is the only way to protect newborn babies against two diseases that can hospitalise them – whooping cough and RSV. It’s also the best way to avoid severe illness from flu, which can be very serious during pregnancy. Before making a decision about vaccination, expectant parents naturally want to know how vaccines in pregnancy work, and what has been done to ensure they are safe and effective. This guide puts that information in their hands."