Newborns can be protected against serious complications from the flu by the mother’s flu shot during pregnancy. In addition, the flu shot reduces the risk for the pregnant woman herself of becoming seriously ill from the flu or being admitted to the hospital as a result.
Unfortunately, we cannot vaccinate newborns against the flu ourselves; they are too young for that. The mother can, however, be vaccinated. The mother then produces antibodies that she passes on to the baby. In this way, the baby is protected during the first period after birth. The baby can still get the flu, but the chance is much smaller. If the baby does get the flu, the consequences are often less severe.
The Health Council therefore advised on September 20, 2021, to offer all pregnant women a flu shot from 22 weeks of gestation. Previously, that only applied to pregnant women with underlying diseases (such as diabetes or heart and lung diseases).
The State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) has indicated that the new target groups in the advice, including a portion of pregnant women, may receive the flu shot for free in 2021. They could make an appointment with their GP for this themselves between October 1 and November 1, 2021. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will decide later whether the people currently designated as vulnerable by the Health Council will also receive a free flu shot in the future and receive an invitation for it.
The period between the Covid vaccination and the flu shot must be at least 7 days.
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