HEALTH leaders in Gloucestershire are urging pregnant women to get their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations to protect themselves and their babies from illness this winter.

NHS Gloucestershire is reassuring women that the vaccines are safe to have “at any stage” of pregnancy and is warning of the risks of not having them.

Sue Cooper, a Lead Midwife at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “When women become pregnant, their immune system weakens, which makes it harder to fight off infections.

“The antibodies produced in response to the vaccine can also give the baby protection when it is born.

“There aren’t any live viruses in either the flu or COVID vaccines, so they cannot make pregnant women or their baby ill – though women might have a sore arm and feel a bit tired and headachey, but paracetamol can help with this and is safe to take during pregnancy.

“My message to anyone who is currently pregnant is - please don’t delay, get your vaccinations booked in as soon as you can, and speak to your GP or maternity team about any concerns, so you can make an informed decision.”

The NHS says women are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from Covid particularly in the later stages of pregnancy, when their baby could also be at risk.

More information is available at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination.