PRECONCEPTION HEALTH

Vaccinations

Key things to know

  • Vaccinations help protect both you and your future baby from harmful infectious diseases.
  • Some infections during pregnancy can cause severe complications in the baby, including developmental delay, blindness, or miscarriage.
  • The time before pregnancy is the best time to check that your vaccinations are up to date, as some vaccines cannot be given in pregnancy and some vaccines work best if given before you are pregnant.
  • Previous vaccinations don’t always provide lifetime immunity. Your GP or health professional can recommend blood tests to check your immunity and advise which vaccinations are needed to keep you and your baby safe.
Page Contents

CONTENTS

Preparing for pregnancy is the best time to make sure you are up to date with vaccinations. Once you are pregnant, your body becomes more vulnerable to certain vaccine-preventable diseases, which can lead to complications and affect the health of your baby. Certain vaccinations protect you and your share this immunity with your unborn baby, providing protection during pregnancy and in the first few months after birth.

If you are planning a pregnancy, it’s a good idea to have your vaccination needs checked by a GP or healthcare professional.

In Australia, recommended vaccines before pregnancy include:

  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • COVID-19

Other vaccines may be suggested depending on your individual risk.

Getting your vaccinations up to date is a small but powerful step you can take before pregnancy when you are thinking about or starting to try for a baby, to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Myth busting

Checking your vaccinations before the baby bump

Facts

Vaccines don’t make you sick
You may have some mild side effects following vaccination. This is normal and shows your immune system is responding. The most common side effects include pain, swelling or redness at the injection site, tiredness, aching muscles and mild fever. These side effects last no more than a day or two.

Vaccines do not cause autism
Extensive research has found no link between vaccines and autism.

Some vaccinations are avoided once pregnant
Live vaccines are not given to pregnant women, even though the risk is considered theoretical. Instead, only inactivated vaccines are offered during pregnancy to keep both parent and baby safe.

Fact sheets

Checklist for women

Download : Checklist for women

Checklist for men

Download : Checklist for men

Wait! There’s more

Get there first

Many parents wait until they are pregnant to visit the GP, but visiting beforehand helps you optimise health – improving egg and sperm quality, creating a healthier pregnancy environment, and giving your baby the best start. Head to your GP before the baby bump, so you can be the healthiest you when the baby is ready to start growing.

Healthier pregnancy 

Taking steps towards health early can lead to a healthier pregnancy. Your GP can support you in this journey and consider the whole picture that is you.

More time to enjoy your pregnancy 

Seeing your GP before the baby bump ensures your body is ready once you’re expecting, giving you more time to enjoy your pregnancy.

Work as a team

The best way to support your future baby’s health is by creating a ‘circle of protection’ through vaccinations, this is also known as ‘cocooning’. Parents, caregivers and older siblings should make sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccines to create a protective ‘cocoon’ around the infant.

Planning for a baby is an exciting time. Checking that you are both in your best health is a simple way to share this journey. Before the baby bump both parents should visit a GP for a health check.

Support resources

Support services

Healthcare professional service finder

My Health for Life health checker

References

  1. Bar-Oz, B., Levichek, Z., Moretti, M. E., Mah, C., Andreou, S., & Koren, G. (2004). Pregnancy outcome following rubella vaccination: A prospective controlled study. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 130A(1), 52–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.30225 
  2. Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Vaccinations for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding. Australian Immunisation Handbook. Retrieved October 2025, from https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/contents/vaccination-for-special-risk-groups/vaccination-for-women-who-are-planning-pregnancy-pregnant-or-breastfeeding 
  3. Goldfarb, I. (2020). Vaccines for women: Before conception, during pregnancy and after a birth. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved October 2025, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vaccines-for-women-before-conception-during-pregnancy-and-after-a-birth-2020011018649 
  4. Department of Health and Aged Care. (2023). Vaccinations and pregnancy. Pregnancy Birth & Baby. Retrieved October 2025, from https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/vaccinations-and-pregnancy 
  5. Duque, J., Howe, A. S., AzzizBaumgartner, E., & PetousisHarris, H. (2023). Multidecade national cohort identifies adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes associated with acute respiratory illness hospitalisations during the influenza season. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 17, Article e13063. 

Understand your health before the baby bump

Take a free online preconception health check today or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Before the Baby Bump is an initiative of the Queensland Government, delivered by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, and funded through Queensland Health’s Supporting Healthier Pregnancies Initiative.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of the lands from across Queensland. We pay our respects to the Elders past and present for they are holders of the memories, traditions, the culture and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland.

© Health and Wellbeing Queensland 2026