Ask the expert: Vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood - £200 voucher to be won

[LibbyMumsnet]

Vaccinations can raise lots of questions, whether you’re expecting a baby or taking your child for their routine immunisations. With the NHS vaccination schedule changing this year, you may also have questions about what applies to you and your family.

We’ve invited Danielle Robinson, Lead Vaccination Nurse, and Emma Lormor, Senior Vaccination Nurse, from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, to answer your questions about vaccinations in pregnancy and early childhood. Danielle and Emma will be posting answers throughout Feb/March.

Share your questions by 16 March for your chance to win a £200 VEX voucher (T&Cs apply).

About our experts:
Danielle Robinson is a Lead Vaccination Nurse with 25 years’ experience as a qualified nurse and has specialised in vaccinations for the past four years, supporting pregnant women, babies and young children.

Emma Lormor is a Senior Vaccination Nurse who supports the organisation and delivery of NHS vaccination programmes across a wide range of settings, including for pregnant women and young children.

You may also find Mumsnet’s vaccination reminders helpful for keeping track of which vaccinations are due and when.

How is it that some vaccinations seem to only have to be given once or twice for lifelong immunity, whereas others have to be boosted, sometimes even yearly?

My little one has had lumps at the vaccination site from her MMR vaccine, is this permanent? Or will it disappear over time?

Hi everyone, we are really looking forward to answering your questions about childhood vaccinations and vaccinations during pregnancy over the coming weeks. We understand that parents and parents-to-be often have lots of questions, mixed feelings, and sometimes worries about this topic, particularly with so much information available from different sources.

There’s no such thing as a silly question, and we are here to share our experiences and up-to-date knowledge, provide clear and accurate information, offer reassurance where it’s needed, and help address any concerns you may have so you can make informed decisions that feel right for you and your family.

Hi @hannahp1209, thank you for your question.

The nasal spray is the preferred vaccine for children, and it is quick and easy to administer. It may also be better at reducing the spread of flu in the community. Most children receive a nasal spray vaccine. If you do not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine, a flu vaccine injection that does not contain gelatine is available. This is mainly to make sure all children can be protected against flu, even if the nasal spray isn’t suitable for them.

The nasal spray is usually offered if your child:

• Is aged 2–17 (all children who turn 2 years before the flu season (by 31 August) up to those in school year 11 are eligible for the flu programme. Children in clinical risk groups up 17 years can receive the nasal spray)
• Does not have certain medical conditions or treatments
• Is happy to have it

The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu, but will help your child to build up immunity. This means your child will be better able to fight off flu. The vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this from happening.

The flu injection is used if a child:

• Has a severely weakened immune system
• Lives with someone who is severely immunocompromised (for example those who have just had a bone marrow transplant)
• Cannot have the nasal spray for medical reasons (hHas certain medical conditions or treatments)
• If a child cannot receive porcine products due to religious beliefs

The injected vaccine does not contain live virus.

Hi @TheGoldenApplesOfTheSun, thank you for your questions.

The MMRV vaccine which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox (varicella) vaccine was added to the routine childhood vaccination schedule in January 2026 and is given free through the NHS. It is routinely offered to children at 12 and 18 months old. Catch up doses are available for eligible children born on or after 1 January 2020.

The chickenpox-only vaccine is only offered on the NHS in specific clinical circumstances, to protect people with severely weakened immune systems who cannot be vaccinated themselves.

Hi @oootapasooo, thank you for your question.

All vaccinations and medications have the potential to cause side effects, but not everyone will get them. Common side effects are mild and the risk of being ill after vaccination is much lower than the risk of being ill with the disease, it protects against.

Most side effects are mild and get better within 1 to 2 days. Common side effects include:

• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
• High temperature
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling tired
• Diarrhoea and sickness

Giving your child liquid infant paracetamol and fluids should help them feel better.

Some childhood vaccines are live, such as MMRV, rotavirus and the flu nasal spray vaccine , These contain a weakened form of the virus or bacteria which, in people with healthy immune systems, does not make them ill.

Overall, the protection from vaccination is far safer than the risk of catching the disease. Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Hi @Kentishbirdlife, thank you for your question.

Between November 2026 and March 2028, children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 will be offered a single dose of MMRV if they haven’t already had chickenpox or been fully vaccinated against chickenpox.

Hi @Kentishbirdlife, thank you for your question.

Children who missed out on their measles-containing vaccines remain eligible and can be caught up for free on the NHS. There is no upper age limit. If you’re unsure whether your child is up to date, check your Redbook and/or contact your GP practice. If any doses are outstanding or only one has been received, you can book an appointment to have the vaccine.

Hi @Kweenxo, thank you for your question.

It can sometimes be difficult to know whether symptoms you or your child experience are related to a vaccination or caused by something else. Most vaccine side effects occur within a predictable timeframe, which helps us tell the difference.

• Local reactions such as a sore arm, redness, or swelling usually appear within 1-2 days
• Mild general symptoms like a fever, tiredness, or headache often develop within a few days
• Some vaccines (for example, measles-containing vaccines) can cause mild symptoms 7-14 days later - this is expected and well recognised

If you or your child feels unwell after a vaccination:

• A mild fever, soreness, or feeling a bit off-colour is usually normal and short-lived
• If symptoms are severe, unusual, long-lasting, or cause concern, it’s always the right thing to seek medical advice – whatever the cause may be.

Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Hi @Lavender14, thank you for your questions.

Toddlers, just like you and I, can find jabs scary, but there are ways to make it easier both of you:

• Be honest and try and normalise it as much as possible but keep it simple – say something like “It might scratch for a few seconds, then it’s over.” Or “The nurse is going to give you a tiny scratch to help keep you healthy.”
• Bring comfort items – favourite toy, teddy, or blanket.
• Distraction works – singing, talking, choosing a sticker, or a quick video can help.
• Praise afterwards – let them feel proud for being brave – stickers and sweet treats can help here.
• Stay calm yourself – children can pick up on adult anxiety, so try to stay relaxed.

It’s completely normal for toddlers to cry - it usually passes quickly.

If you have questions about vaccinations, the best approach is to speak with a trusted healthcare professional who can give advice specific to you. This might include:

• Your practice nurse or GP
• A health visitor or midwife, particularly for pregnancy or childhood vaccines
• A pharmacist trained in vaccinations
• Staff at local vaccination clinics, family hubs, children's centres or wellbeing centres

These professionals can explain the benefits and risks, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision.

For written information, reliable evidence-based UK sources include:

• NHS Vaccinations – https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/
• NHS Vaccinations – https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

It’s best to be cautious with social media or websites that promote a strong agenda, as these may not provide accurate or balanced information. A good healthcare professional will always listen to your concerns and support you in making the choice that’s right for you.

Hi @salemaxo, thank you for your question.

Remember, it’s your right to have clear, factual information before any vaccination, and a good healthcare professional should welcome questions. Most vaccinations given to young children are through your GP surgery, so it’s best to speak to your practice nurse or GP.

If you are in hospital and have questions about vaccinations, the best approach is to speak with a trusted healthcare professional who can give advice specific to you. This might include:

• Your doctor or nurse
• Occupational health nurses or vaccination nurses if your hospital has them
• A pharmacist trained in vaccinations

These professionals can explain the benefits and risks, answer your questions, and help you make an informed decision.

For written information, reliable evidence-based UK sources include:

• NHS Vaccinations
• Why vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself

Hi @CopperPan, thank you for your question.

You’re not alone, lots of parents struggle with young children refusing the nasal flu spray! It’s normal for younger children to be particularly resistant, and in that age group (usually 2–3 years and sometimes up to 4–5 years) parents are expected to make the decision in their child’s best interests.

Flu can be more serious in younger children. Children under 5 years have one of the highest hospitalisation rates for flu every season and children from 2 years up to year 11 in secondary school are eligible each season to help protect them from flu as they are at higher risk of developing complications from flu than adults. So it’s important to get them vaccinated even if it means having to be firm.

You could try and to make the experience easier for both of you by:

• Being honest and trying and normalise it as much as possible whilst keeping it simple – say something like “It might tickle for a few seconds, then it’s over.” Or “The nurse is going to give you a tiny tickle up your nose to help keep you healthy.”
• Bringing comfort items – favourite toy, teddy, or blanket.
• Distracting them – singing, talking, getting them to choose a sticker or a quick video can help.
• Providing praise afterwards – let them feel proud for being brave – stickers and sweet treats can help here.
• Staying calm yourself – children can pick up on adult anxiety, so try to stay relaxed.

It’s completely normal for young children to cry although not all do and giving reassuring cuddles is helpful and it usually passes quickly. Help them to choose a good sticker to wear and tell everyone about how they had their vaccines today!

As children get older, they usually have a better understanding of what’s happening and can start to be involved in the decision. Even for younger children, it helps to explain in simple terms what will happen, let them ask questions, and give them small choices where possible (e.g., which nostril would you like first, or holding a toy) to help them feel more in control.

In the UK flu can cause thousands of hospitalisations and deaths every year, so the risk-benefit balance strongly favours vaccination. Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Hi @saffysabir, thank you for your question.

It is very rare for vaccination to be dangerous, but there are a small number of situations where a vaccine may need to be delayed or avoided.

A vaccine should not be given (or needs specialist advice) if:

• You have had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the same vaccine or to a known ingredient in it
• You are currently unwell with a severe illness with a high fever – vaccination is usually postponed until you’re feeling better
• You have certain immune system conditions or are undergoing specific treatments (for example chemotherapy or high-dose steroids) – some vaccines, particularly live vaccines, may not be suitable
• You are pregnant, in the case of live vaccines (such as MMR or chickenpox), which are avoided as a precaution until after you have delivered your baby

In these situations, a healthcare professional will assess the risks and benefits to you specifically and advise on your safest option. Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Hi @chickenpotnoodle, thank you for your question.

There is no need worry. Your son is still able to get the second dose now. We would recommend anyone who has missed their second dose, no matter how old they are, to get vaccinated. It is safe for teenagers and adults to have the Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, and it will provide strong protection. The Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is very safe, and having one dose gives partial protection, but getting the second dose completes immunity.

You can contact your son’s GP practice and arrange the second dose and once he has that, he’ll have full long-term protection against measles, mumps, and rubella.

Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Hi @JacCharlton, thank you for your question.

You’re definitely not alone in feeling a bit anxious about COVID-19, especially if you and your youngest child have asthma. COVID-19 vaccines are still available, but for most healthy people they aren’t given every year like the flu jab. In the UK, boosters are usually offered to:

• Older adults (75+)
• People with certain health conditions, including moderate-to-severe asthma
• Residents in care homes

Because you and your youngest child have asthma, you might be eligible depending on how severe it is. However, if your asthma is mild and well controlled, it’s less likely, but it’s still worth checking with your GP.

If you’re keen for extra peace of mind, some pharmacies also offer private COVID vaccines. The winter booster campaign has finished, but your GP can advise in early April if a spring booster is available.

Hi @Britanniahouse, thank you for your question.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is considered safe both if you’re trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy. It’s what we call an inactivated vaccine, which means it cannot give you or your baby Hepatitis B. There’s also no evidence it affects fertility, so it won’t impact your chances of conceiving.

It’s offered in care homes because Hep B infection can be passed via blood or body fluids, so it protects both staff and residents. Most people just get mild side effects like a sore arm, mild fever, or feeling a bit tired. Serious reactions are very rare.

We would recommend you don’t need to avoid it just because you’re trying for a baby, and it’s actually a good way to protect yourself and others.

Hi @YourNavyHedgehog, thank you for your question.

You’re right, like any medical treatment, vaccines can have side effects, but most are mild and short-lived (sore arm, slight fever, feeling tired) and don’t happen to everyone. Serious reactions, like severe allergic reactions, are very rare - about 1 in 100,000 to 1 in a million doses - and are treatable in a healthcare setting. In the UK, the rate of death caused by vaccines is estimated at less than 1 per million doses for most routine vaccines.

Vaccines are considered safer than the diseases they prevent because the illnesses themselves (such as, measles, whooping cough, flu, COVID-19, etc.) can cause serious complications, long-term health problems, hospitalisation, or even death. By comparison, these diseases cause thousands of hospitalisations and deaths every year, so the risk-benefit balance strongly favours vaccination.

Vaccines also protect the wider community, including people who can’t be vaccinated, and are carefully tested and continuously monitored for safety. Essentially, they’re recommended because the chances of serious harm from the disease are far higher than the small risk of a vaccine reaction, and they prevent illness, complications, and even deaths. Further information can be found on the NHS website here: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-important-and-the-safest-way-to-protect-yourself/

Does the application of the vaccine impact on its effective? Eg. Jab v Nasal spray.

Thanks so much to everyone who has posted questions so far - and a big thank you to @NHSVaccineNurses for the helpful answers already shared.

Danielle and Emma will be continuing to check the thread and answer more questions over the next few weeks, so please do keep them coming if there’s anything you’d like to ask about vaccinations in pregnancy or early childhood.

And don’t forget, anyone who posts a question before 16th March will be entered into the draw to win a £200 VEX voucher (T&Cs apply).

Hi @ruqiya1965, thank you for your question.

No, vaccinations that are recommended during pregnancy do not harm the baby and are offered specifically because they help protect both you and your baby. They are given at the best time for you to build protection that lasts once baby is born. This helps to give your baby essential protection against pertussis (whooping cough) and RSV lung disease in the first months of life, when they are most vulnerable.

The vaccines recommended during pregnancy are:

• Whooping cough (Pertussis) - you will usually be offered the whooping cough vaccine around your 20-week scan, but you can have it from 16 weeks. For the best protection for your baby, try to have it before 32 weeks, but you can still get it later if needed.
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) – from 28 weeks of pregnancy or soon after•
• Flu – can be given at any stage of pregnancy during flu season

These vaccines are safe to have in pregnancy because they:

• Do not contain live viruses
• Cannot cause infection in you or your baby
• Have been used in hundreds of thousands of pregnancies in the UK and worldwide.

All vaccines are carefully studied before being recommended and are continuously monitored once in use. Large studies have shown no increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, premature birth, or developmental problems linked to these vaccines. Pregnancy outcomes are closely tracked, and if any safety concerns were identified, guidance would change quickly.

The vaccines that are avoided during pregnancy are mainly live vaccines. These contain a very weakened form of a virus. While they are safe for the general population, they are not recommended in pregnancy as a precaution, not because harm has been proven.

Vaccines not recommended during pregnancy include:

• MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) - if you haven’t had your MMR vaccine, or if you’ve only had one dose, it is important to be fully vaccinated at least one-month before becoming pregnant. This protects you and you and your future pregnancy from measles and rubella, which can be very serious during pregnancy.

Live vaccines such as

• MMR
• Chickenpox (varicella)
• Shingles
• Yellow fever

Are avoided during pregnancy because they are live vaccines and could theoretically cross the placenta. Importantly, there is no good evidence that they cause harm, but they are not urgently needed in pregnancy and are therefore postponed until after birth.

If it is identified during your pregnancy that you have not had two doses of MMR vaccine you will be advised to have it as soon as possible after your baby is born.

Is there a best and worse time for a whooping cough one during pregnancy - for any antibodies to protect you and baby - too soon or too late ??

Why is there not a catch up hepatitis B vax? Also my eldest missed of the meningitis as it came in later.

I have not given my DC's any protection against chicken pox, I really need some advice as to give them the vaccine, as I am worried about shingles being caught from it - any advice welcomed

My DD is older, but last year she refused the nasal flu vaccine at school and also when we took her to a catch up clinic. This year we bought a nasal saline spray to practise with at home. She practised at home, starting off controlling the spray herself and then letting us do it. That really helped her this year and she had the nasal vaccine at school no problem.

My children are at university now and I am not sure they have all the meningitis vaccines they should have. Is there a central record? Vaccines were done at school, so their vaccine record book ends at about 4 years old. We accepted all vaccines offered, but I can’t be sure.

Also my children had initial chickenpox vaccines innanother country before they were offered in the UK. Do they need a booster? I think I can pay fir this at a local pharmacy.