Third trimester (27–40 weeks)

Key facts

  • Vaccination against both influenza and whooping cough (pertussis) is recommended for all pregnant women, in each pregnancy. Women who have not yet had these vaccinations during their pregnancy are able to do so in their third trimester.

  • Vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is also recommended between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect your baby. 

  • The whooping cough, influenza and RSV vaccines can be given at the same time and are free for all pregnant woman in Australia. 

  • Vaccination against COVID-19 is also recommended in your third trimester if you have not been vaccinated yet. If you have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, speak with your healthcare provider about whether an additional dose is right for you.   

Last updated on 11 February 2025.

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What vaccines are recommended in my third trimester?

Whooping cough (pertussis)

When you are pregnant, it is strongly recommended that you get vaccinated against whooping cough (also known as pertussis). Ideally you should have the vaccination between 20 and 32 weeks. This is when the vaccine provides the most effective protection for your baby. However, the vaccine can be delivered anytime from 20 weeks up to delivery.3

The whooping cough vaccine will protect both your baby and you from this serious infectious disease. Studies indicate that nine out of 10 babies under three months of age are protected against whooping cough if their mothers received the whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy.1,2

Influenza 

The influenza (or ‘flu’) vaccine is recommended at any time in pregnancy. Getting vaccinated against influenza protects both you and your baby from one of the most common and highly contagious viral infections. Babies can’t be vaccinated against influenza until they are six months old. Until then, the vaccine you get during pregnancy will provide the best early protection from the influenza virus.

Pregnant women who have received the previous year’s flu vaccine in the first trimester of pregnancy are recommended to be revaccinated with the current season’s flu vaccine later in their pregnancy.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is recommended for women between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This is when the vaccine provides the most effective protection for your baby. 

The vaccine you get during pregnancy will provide the best early protection for your baby from RSV disease.

COVID-19

Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended at any time in your pregnancy if you are unvaccinated. A dose of COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy may reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 in babies through the transfer of antibodies.

Pregnant women who have previously been vaccinated for COVID-19 should discuss with their healthcare provider whether to have a further dose during their pregnancy.

The whooping cough, influenza and RSV vaccines are free for all pregnant women in Australia. It is recommended that you get the influenza and whooping cough vaccines each time you are pregnant. Right now, only 1 dose of an RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant women. You can have all three vaccines at the same time.

What do I need to do before the vaccination?

There’s no need to do anything special to get ready for your vaccination.

The best time to have the whooping cough vaccination is between 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. This is when the transfer of protective antibodies from you to your baby is most effective and will provide the best protection for your baby after birth. However, the vaccine can be delivered anytime from 20 weeks of pregnancy up to delivery.3

You can get the influenza vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine at any time during your pregnancy and at any time of the year. 

The best time to have the RSV vaccine is between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This is when the transfer of protective antibodies from you to your baby is most effective and will provide the best protection for your baby after birth. 

The vaccine can still be given after 36 weeks of pregnancy, but if your baby is born within two weeks of you receiving the RSV vaccine they may not be adequately protected.4 Speak to your midwife or doctor about additional protection your baby may receive from an RSV-specific monoclonal antibody product. This contains ready-made antibodies that help babies and children fight off a potential RSV infection and prevent severe RSV disease.

The midwife or trained immunisation nurse at your antenatal clinic may be able to vaccinate you against whooping cough, influenza, RSV and COVID-19. If not, you can go to your GP, local council clinic, or pharmacy. Most GPs will need you to make an appointment if you require a vaccine.

What do I need to do after the vaccination?

Most people have no reaction to the whooping cough, influenza vaccine, RSV and  COVID-19 vaccines. Some people have mild reactions that last between 12 and 24 hours and are easily treated at home. 

If your symptoms last longer than a couple of days, or if you are worried about how you feel after your vaccination, you can get help from your doctor, or your nearest emergency department, or by calling Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

A very small number of people have a severe allergic reaction to vaccines called ‘anaphylaxis’, where they can develop swelling, hives, breathing difficulties, lowered blood pressure and in severe cases, shock. Anaphylactic reactions are very rare – they occur in about one in a million people who have a vaccination.5 Midwives, nurses and GPs are trained to respond to an anaphylactic reaction with quick delivery of adrenaline.

Very rarely, people receiving a vaccine that protects against COVID-19 can experience a swelling or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the lining of the heart (pericarditis).3

No rare adverse events have been found in RSV (Abyrsvo) vaccine trials, but to be safe, it is recommended for women at 28 weeks of pregnancy or later. 

Read more about the rare but serious side effects

When do I need my next vaccination?

You do not need to have any further vaccinations during your pregnancy once you have been vaccinated against whooping cough, influenza, RSV and COVID-19 when recommended. It is recommended you discuss with your healthcare provider when you should get your next COVID-19 vaccination.

If you are not able to receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy or if your baby is (i) born within two weeks of you receiving the vaccine; (ii) has a condition that increases their risk of severe RSV disease, then your baby is eligible for an RSV immunisation product (monoclonal antibody). This product will be available for free through your state or territory RSV infant protection program. For more information, see State and territory nirsevimab (Beyfortus) infant program summary 2025 [PDF].

It is highly recommended that your baby has the hepatitis B vaccine soon after birth. 

What if I still have questions?

You can find more information on vaccination in pregnancy and at birth in our Resources section, and on these pages:

If you still have some questions remaining, write them down so that you can ask your midwife, nurse or GP at your next appointment.

  1. Amirthalingam, G., Andrews, N., Campbell, H., et al., Effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination in England: an observational study. Lancet, 2014. 384(9953): p. 1521-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60686-3
  2. Baxter, R., Bartlett, J., Fireman, B., Lewis, E., and Klein, N.P., Effectiveness of Vaccination During Pregnancy to Prevent Infant Pertussis. Pediatrics, 2017. 139(5). Available from: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-4091
  3. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). The Australian Immunisation Handbook [Electronic book] 2024; Available from: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/ 
  4. Kong KL, Krishnaswamy S, Giles ML. Maternal vaccinations. Australian Journal of General Practice 2020;49:630-35. Available from: https://doi.org/10.31128/ajgp-02-20-5243 
  5. McNeil, M.M., Weintraub, E.S., Duffy, J., et al., Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination in children and adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2016. 137(3): p. 868-78. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.07.048