COVID-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy

Pregnant women are more likely to get severe COVID-19 symptoms

Recent evidence shows that pregnancy may increase the risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19, which can lead to complications with pregnancy.

Studies show having the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy is safe

Studies have shown having the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy is safe and significantly reduces the risk of serious illness or harm to pregnant women.

If you are pregnant, or planning a pregnancy, it is important to have the COVID-19 vaccine.

Data from the large number of pregnant people worldwide who have already had their COVID-19 immunisation shows that there are no extra safety concerns with giving COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy.

Immunising during pregnancy may also help protect your baby. There is evidence that infants can get antibodies to the virus through cord blood and breast milk.

You can see more information about COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy at the NZ College of Midwives website.

See the NZ College of Midwives website

You can have the COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy

If you're pregnant, you can get a COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy. You can book your immunisation now.

If you have already had the first 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, you can have a booster dose at least 3 months after your second dose. This will help protect you and your baby from the effects of COVID-19. You can have the booster dose at any stage of pregnancy.

Talk to your midwife, obstetrician, or GP about the timing of your booster dose.

If you haven't made your appointment yet, you can book online at Book My Vaccine.

Book your vaccine online

You can also:

• ask your GP clinic if they are providing the COVID vaccine 
• book by phone - call the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week)

You can talk to your healthcare professional

If you have any questions or concerns, talk about them with your healthcare professional.

Find out more about COVID and pregnancy

Remember to have other important vaccines during pregnancy

As well as having the COVID-19 vaccine, remember to also have the flu vaccine and whooping cough vaccine. You can have the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, and whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks of pregnancy. You can have them at the same time or separately.

Brochure in Samoan and Tongan

Watch videos on having the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy

Karaponi Okesene-Gafa, obstetrician and gynaecologist and Shekinah Gafa, midwife, encourage all Pasifika mamas to get the COVID vaccine.

Video about COVID-19 immunisation and pregnancy for Pasifika mamas

The following video is from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). He Hono Wāhine, Māori Fellows and the Aotearoa New Zealand office have joined together to produce this video targeting wāhine Māori who are hapū, promoting safe vaccination for hapū māmā.

Video - New Zealand obstetricians and gynaecologists promote safe vaccination for hapū māmā

Video animation - Aotearoa e te toa! COVID-19 pregnancy and vaccination 

Video - New Zealand obstetricians discuss COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy

More KidsHealth content on COVID-19

See KidsHealth's section on COVID-19

See all KidsHealth's content on COVID-19 immunisation in children