We are running weekly vaccination clinics for pregnant women administrating RSV and Whooping Cough vaccines. Flu vaccines will also be available from Monday 1st September.
These clinics are walk in and booking is not required.
Clinic Details
Every Monday
Downe Hospital Maternity Hub, 9am- 12:30pm
Every Tuesday
Ards Hospital Maternity Unit, 9am – 12:30pm
Lagan Valley Hospital Maternity Unit, 1pm- 4:30pm
Every Wednesday
Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit, 9am – 12:30pm
Every Thursday
Ulster Hospital Maternity Unit, 9am – 12:30pm
NO CLINICS ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Please bring your antenatal notes with you.
More information on the vaccinations and eligibility criteria can be found in the drop downs below.
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Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough is a highly contagious and sometimes serious bacterial infection, which can make babies and young children very ill.
Women can receive the vaccine from 16 weeks of pregnancy.
The Whooping Cough vaccination is also administered to children at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age and again at three years and four months. Parents who are unsure if their child is up to date with vaccinations should check their child’s red book or consult with their Health Visitor or GP practice.
Parents should be alert to the signs and symptoms of whooping cough, which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound in young children, and by a prolonged cough in older children or adults. It is also advisable to keep babies away from anyone showing the signs or symptoms of whooping cough.
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
RSV is a common and highly infectious respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older adults. RSV infections often lead to mild cold-like symptoms, but in some cases, especially in infants and individuals with compromised immune systems, it can cause severe respiratory issues and hospitalisation.
From the 1 September 2024 to help protect newborns and infants, pregnant women are being offered the vaccine from 28 weeks into their pregnancy.
We cannot offer vaccination for RSV to any other cohort in the maternity clinics apart from pregnant women.
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Flu
AVAILABLE FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER
Flu is a highly infectious virus that occurs every year especially over the winter.
Pregnant women are more likely to develop serious complications such as pneumonia which may require hospitalisation.
Taking the flu vaccine during pregnancy allows antibodies to pass from you to your baby, protecting you both. Young babies are more at risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch flu because their immune system is not fully developed and they are too young to be offered the flu vaccine. It is a non-live vaccine and is offered over the flu season which normally starts at the end of September. If you become pregnant later in the winter, you should be offered a flu vaccine as soon as you know you are pregnant