What vaccines do you get in pregnancy in Ireland?
The flu vaccine, the whooping cough vaccine, when to get each one and what is free, from the HSE guidance.
In short
The HSE says there are two vaccines you should get during pregnancy: the flu vaccine, free from a GP or pharmacy at any stage of pregnancy once it is available from October, and the whooping cough vaccine between week 16 and 36 of every pregnancy. In some cases your GP may also recommend a COVID-19 vaccine. They protect your baby in the first months after birth as well as you.
- Flu vaccine: free for pregnant women from a GP practice or pharmacy, at any stage of pregnancy, available from October each year.
- Whooping cough vaccine: week 16 to 36 of every pregnancy, free at GP practices in the Maternity and Infant Care scheme.
- COVID-19 vaccine: in some cases your GP may recommend one. Ask your GP or healthcare team.
- You can get them at the same time, usually in different arms.
- Always say you are pregnant before booking any vaccine. Live vaccines such as MMR and yellow fever are not safe in pregnancy.
Flu season starts in October and the HSE's advice for pregnant women is short: two vaccines, free in most cases, both protecting your baby after the birth as well as you. Here is what the HSE says, checked against its three pages below on 12 October 2026.
Which vaccines does the HSE recommend in pregnancy?
Two. The HSE says you should get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine and the flu vaccine during pregnancy, and in some cases your GP may also recommend a COVID-19 vaccine. They protect you against serious illness and protect your baby in the womb and for the first few months of life.
| Vaccine | When | Where and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flu vaccine | Any stage of pregnancy, as early as you can; available from October each year | GP practice or pharmacy; the vaccine and appointment are free for pregnant women |
| Whooping cough vaccine | Week 16 to 36 of every pregnancy | GP practice; free if the practice is in the Maternity and Infant Care scheme |
| COVID-19 vaccine | If your GP recommends it | GP or a pharmacy giving COVID-19 vaccines |
The HSE says you can get these vaccines at the same time, usually in different arms, and that you arrange the appointment yourself with your GP or a pharmacy that provides flu or COVID-19 vaccine services. If you have just found out, our guide to what to do next in Ireland covers the first weeks in order.
When should I get the flu vaccine in pregnancy?
At any stage of pregnancy, and the HSE says to get it as early in your pregnancy as you can, because the sooner you get it the sooner you are protected. The flu vaccine is available from October each year, and flu season in Ireland usually lasts from October to the end of April.
If you are pregnant during those months, the HSE says you should get the flu vaccine. Flu strains change every year, so if you had the vaccine last season you still need it this season. The HSE advises getting it before the flu season starts, and says the vaccine starts to work after about 2 weeks.
Is the flu vaccine free in pregnancy, and where do I get it?
Yes. The HSE says the flu vaccine and the appointment are free for pregnant women. You can get it from your GP practice or a pharmacy when it is available. Pregnant women are one of the groups the HSE offers a free flu vaccine to, because pregnancy raises the risk of serious illness from flu.
Adults get the flu vaccine as an injection into the arm. The HSE's getting the flu vaccine page has a Find a pharmacy tool for pharmacies giving flu vaccines, and lists everyone else who can get it free.
Is the flu vaccine safe in pregnancy?
Yes. The HSE says the flu vaccine is very safe in pregnancy and flu vaccines have been used in pregnancy for over 50 years. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends it for all pregnant women in every pregnancy during flu season, because pregnancy brings a higher risk of severe complications from flu.
The HSE says flu during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, smaller babies and stillbirth, and that the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of stillbirth by over 50%. You should not get the flu vaccine if you had a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccine or any part of the vaccine, or if you have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher: wait until you are well. If you have an egg allergy, talk to your vaccinator first; the HSE says most people with an egg allergy can get the flu vaccine.
When do I get the whooping cough vaccine in pregnancy?
Between week 16 and 36 of your pregnancy, in each pregnancy. The HSE says you can have it after 36 weeks, but it is less effective. Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is highly contagious and can be life-threatening for babies, and the vaccine protects you and your baby.
The HSE says babies with whooping cough may have to stay in hospital, and complications for your baby can include pneumonia and brain damage. The vaccine cannot give you whooping cough: it does not contain any live bacteria. See 16 weeks pregnant for what else is happening when the window opens.
Is the whooping cough vaccine free in Ireland?
It is free of charge at your GP practice if the practice takes part in the Maternity and Infant Care scheme. The HSE says that if your GP does not take part, you may have to pay for the vaccine, so ask when you book. Our guide to pregnancy care in Ireland explains the scheme.
Most pregnancy care in the public system comes through the same scheme, so the GP who registered your pregnancy is usually the one to ask.
Can I get the flu and whooping cough vaccines at the same time?
Yes. The HSE says you can get the vaccines in pregnancy at the same time, and they are usually given in different arms. You can also get the flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine if one is recommended for you. You arrange the appointment yourself with your GP or a pharmacy.
The flu vaccine can be given at any stage and the whooping cough vaccine between week 16 and 36, so the two do not always fall on the same visit. Get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available, and the whooping cough vaccine once you reach week 16.
Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy?
Talk to your GP or healthcare team, as the HSE says your GP may recommend a COVID-19 vaccine in some cases. COVID-19 vaccines are safe for you and your baby and protect you from getting very unwell. Pregnant women are more likely to get very unwell and need intensive care than women who are not pregnant.
The HSE says most pregnant women who get COVID-19 get mild to moderate symptoms, give birth as planned, and the risk of passing it on to the baby is low. Children under age 1 are at higher risk of hospitalisation and severe illness from COVID-19, and young babies whose mothers were vaccinated in pregnancy were less likely to need hospital care for it.
What side effects can the flu vaccine cause?
Mild ones, usually. The HSE lists soreness, redness or swelling where you got the injection, headache, aches and feeling tired. If you have any of these, take paracetamol and rest; the HSE says paracetamol is safe during pregnancy to help avoid a fever. Serious side effects such as severe allergic reactions are very rare.
Your GP or pharmacist is trained to deal with allergic reactions. If you are unwell after the vaccine, talk to a GP, as the cause may not be a side effect of the vaccine. You, your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or a family member can report a side effect to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
Are there vaccines to avoid in pregnancy?
Yes. The HSE says always tell your GP or pharmacist that you are pregnant before you book any vaccine. Many vaccines are safe in pregnancy, a tetanus vaccine for example, but live vaccines such as the yellow fever vaccine and the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are not safe while you are pregnant.
If you are planning travel or any other vaccine, say you are pregnant at the start and let your GP or pharmacist advise.
How do the vaccines protect my baby after birth?
The HSE says vaccines in pregnancy protect your child while they are in your womb and for the first few months of their life. The flu vaccine reduces your baby's risk of being admitted to hospital with flu, and the whooping cough vaccine protects your baby against an illness that can be life-threatening for babies.
After the birth your baby starts their own vaccines; our guide to the Irish vaccine schedule for babies sets out each visit.
How can I keep track of the vaccine weeks?
Note the dates on your maternity notes and book the whooping cough vaccine as soon as you reach week 16, since it is less effective after 36 weeks. Lullagram's free pregnancy section works out your Irish weeks from your due date and shows the whooping cough vaccine week alongside your scans.
Your GP's advice always comes first: if you are told a different week, that is the one that counts. Lullagram also has weekly updates, the HSE pregnancy guides inside the app, a bump diary and a contraction timer, and the baby tracker is ready in the same app when your baby arrives. It is free on Android, iPhone and web. This is a guide, not medical advice. If you are worried, ask your GP, midwife or maternity unit.
Sources and guidance
This guide is written from the official HSE guidance below. It is general information for people in Ireland, not medical advice. Links checked 12 October 2026.
Really good app. There are loads of additional extras outside the tracking but really helps if parents are taking night shifts and you want to see what has happened before you took over. The timing to let you know when the next feed potentially is also quite handy. loads of reports for the health nurse too. One stop shop for everything really.