Can the flu jab cause miscarriage?

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Why has the flu jab been linked to miscarriage?

What was the 2017 flu jab study?

What are the risks of flu in pregnancy?

When should I have the flu jab?

Could the flu jab give me flu? 

What about the nasal spray flu vaccine?

How do I get the flu vaccine?

What if I get flu?

If you’re still concerned

Getting the flu jab is safe and will help protect you and your baby. There is no evidence to show that getting injected with the flu vaccine can cause miscarriage.  

It’s natural to worry about what you put inside your body when you’re pregnant. That might include concerns about the safety of vaccines. But the flu jab is safe during pregnancy. It does not cause miscarriage, or any other pregnancy complications, and it is a good way of protecting you and your baby.

Why has the flu jab been linked to miscarriage?

Lots of research studies have looked at the safety of the flu jab and shown it to be safe in pregnancy. But in 2017, a small study in the US flagged a possible link between the flu jab and miscarriage. This got a lot of media interest, which led people to ask if having the flu vaccine in pregnancy is safe for their baby.

There are lots of reasons why that one study is not proof of a link between the flu jab and miscarriage, some of which we explain below. When you look at it along with other studies that have looked at the flu jab, there is no good evidence that the flu jab causes miscarriage.

What was the 2017 flu jab study?

The study looked at women who had a certain swine flu vaccine between 2010 and 2012, and whether they then went on to have a miscarriage. It found that there might be a link between the flu jab and miscarriage. But here’s why that study should not cause concern:

• The study only looked at a small number of women – too few to be reliable, as the result may have been down to chance.
• The study was not designed to show any causes of miscarriage. Women who had a flu jab were compared with women who did not have a flu jab. But the researchers did not have any information about other things that are known to increase the risk of miscarriage, such as whether the women were smokers, had diabetes, were overweight, or had a history of miscarriages.
• A possible link was only seen in women who had one type of swine flu vaccine, for two years in a row. No other vaccine or group of women showed any signs of a link.
• Similar research that has been done since, found no link between the flu jab and miscarriage. 
• Plus, a much larger study over a longer span of time – by the same group of researchers – has since found no link between flu jab and miscarriage.

In fact, lots of studies over the years have shown it is safe to have a flu jab while pregnant. The flu jab does not increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. It does not increase the chances of giving birth too soon, or having a very small baby, either.

What are the risks of flu in pregnancy?

In contrast, catching flu when you’re pregnant can be harmful and does increase the risk of problems for the baby:

• Your immune system is weaker during pregnancy, so you may not fight off infections so well.  
• You are more likely to be very ill if you get flu while pregnant, especially if you have diabetes. You could develop a chest infection called bronchitis, which can turn into pneumonia.
• You and your baby may be more likely to need hospital care.
• Getting flu during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and even stillbirth.

Public health and pregnancy experts recommend that pregnant people have a flu jab to reduce these risks. The flu jab will help protect you and your baby during your pregnancy. It can also protect your baby for the first few months of their life. It is safe to get at any point during your pregnancy, and while you are breastfeeding.

The only times a flu jab may not be suitable, are if you:

• have had a severe reaction (anaphylaxis) to a flu jab in the past
• have had a severe reaction to any of the vaccine ingredients.

When should I have the flu jab?

The flu vaccine tends to be available from the end of September each year. It takes a couple of weeks to provide protection, so try to have it as early on as you can.  

If you find out you’re pregnant during flu season, and have not had a flu vaccine, don’t worry. You can have the flu jab at any stage of your pregnancy, so just book in right away.

Could the flu jab give me flu?

No. Injectable flu vaccines do not contain any live viruses. This means the flu jab cannot give you flu.  

If you get a high temperature, headache or muscle aches, this is just your body’s natural reaction to the injection. These side effects are much milder than flu symptoms would be.

What about the nasal spray flu vaccine?

In the UK, eligible children and young people aged 2 to 17 years are usually offered a nasal spray flu vaccine.

Unlike the flu jab, the nasal spray does contain a very small amount of weakened flu virus. It’s not yet known if it is safe for pregnant people to have. If you are pregnant and under 18, you should be offered the injection instead.

How do I get the flu vaccine?

The flu jab is free when you are pregnant. You can get it at:

• your GP surgery  
• many pharmacies
• some maternity services
• your employer, if you work in health or social care.

What if I get flu?

The flu vaccine will reduce your risk of severe flu symptoms, but you could still get flu. Contact your GP if you have symptoms of flu. They may prescribe medicine to help relieve some of the symptoms and reduce your risk of complications.

Do not take any over-the-counter decongestants (medicine for a blocked or stuffy nose). It’s not clear whether these are safe if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on how to treat your symptoms.

Find out more about what medications you can take in pregnancy.

If you’re still concerned

Research into possible causes of pregnancy loss is important and helps us find ways to have a safer pregnancy. But sometimes, the way this research is reported in the media or discussed online can be misleading.  

This can make it very hard to know what to believe if you’re pregnant or have lost a baby before. Talk to your midwife if you see, hear or read about something to do with pregnancy that worries you.  

You can also speak to our midwives on our pregnancy line on 0800 014 7800 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or email us at [email protected].  

Find out more about vaccinations in pregnancy.