Are vaccines safe before and during pregnancy?

This is a question that is asked by all pregnant women – all women worry about whether getting vaccinated may harm their unborn baby.

There is very strong evidence to show that vaccines are not harmful to women or their unborn babies.

All medicines (including vaccines) have to be thoroughly tested before they are made available for the public and there is a strict safety criterion; especially for medicines made available for pregnant women.

Certain medicines are only licenced for use in pregnancy if it has been reviewed and that the risk of not having the medication outweighs and theoretical risk of having the medication.

The NHS does not offer medication that is known to be harmful to women or their unborn babies. Evidence is constantly reviewed and medication would be removed if it was shown to cause harm.