RSV vaccination during pregnancy
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a virus can cause respiratory infections and typically circulates during the autumn and winter months. For most people, RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms, but in infants the infection can become serious and, in some cases, require hospital admission. The younger the child, the greater the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and intensive care.
Vaccination against RSV during pregnancy helps protect the infant against RSV disease in the first months after birth. The Danish Health Authority recommends that all pregnant women who are due to give birth before or during the RSV season are vaccinated against RSV in connection with the third routine antenatal appointment with their GP around week 32 of pregnancy, from 1 May to 31 January.
It is recommended that there be at least two weeks between vaccination against whooping cough and vaccination against RSV disease.
Questions and answers
1. Why does the Danish Health Authority recommend vaccination against RSV disease during pregnancy?
The Danish Health Authority recommends vaccination against RSV during pregnancy to prevent severe RSV disease requiring hospitalisation in infants. Pregnant women with a due date before or during the RSV season, which typically runs from October to March, are offered vaccination to help protect the youngest and most vulnerable infants.
2. Why are infants more at risk of severe RSV disease?
For most people, RSV causes mild cold-like symptoms, but in infants it can develop into severe illness requiring hospitalisation. This is because their immune system is not yet fully developed, and because their small airways can more easily become blocked due by inflammation and mucus production caused by RSV infection.
Deaths due to RSV infection are very rare in Denmark.
3. When during pregnancy is vaccination recommended?
The RSV vaccine is approved for use during pregnancy between weeks 24 and 36 (24+0-35+6).
The Danish Health Authority recommends that the vaccine be given at the third routine antenatal appointment with the GP around week 32 of pregnancy.
Vaccination against RSV is recommended for pregnant women who are due to give birth from July to March. This is because infants born during this period are very young when RSV typically circulates (October to March) and are therefore at higher risk of severe disease.
If there is a risk of preterm birth, vaccination may be given earlier following an individual assessment, but no earlier than week 24 (24+0).
Vaccination can be given up to and including week 36 (35+6), as otherwise the vaccine cannot be expected to have its full effect before the baby is born.
4. What is RSV?
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a respiratory virus and a common cause of respiratory infections during the autumn and winter season from October to March. RSV spreads through droplets from coughing, sneezing, etc.
5. How many children become severely ill due to RSV?
Each year, approximately 1,300 children under the age of one have been hospitalised due to RSV infection. The risk of hospitalisation and intensive care increases the younger the child is. Among infants hospitalised with RSV disease before the age of three months, approximately 40% require intensive care.
6. How does the vaccine work and how effective is it?
When a pregnant woman is vaccinated against RSV, protective antibodies are transferred from the placenta to the unborn child.
Vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk that the infant develops severe RSV infection of the lower respiratory tract by approximately 70% in the first six months of life.
The vaccine protects the infant during the first six months after birth.
7. Is the vaccine safe, and what are the most common side effects?
All vaccines can cause side effects, including the RSV vaccine. Pregnant women may experience the same side effects as others after vaccination.
The most common side effects are soreness at the injection site, headache and muscle pain. Serious side effects such as severe allergic reactions are very rare. If you have previously had a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine or another injection, you should speak to your GP before being vaccinated.
Vaccination is not associated with an increased risk of harm to the foetus or newborn baby. This means that the vaccine is safe for your baby.
8. Do we have experience of using the vaccine?
In Denmark, RSV vaccination has been offered to pregnant women since autumn 2025, and more than 16,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated as part of the programme.
The vaccine has also been introduced into vaccination programmes in countries including the United States, Australia, Argentina, the United Kingdom and France. Overall experience confirms that the vaccine is safe for both the pregnant woman and the foetus.
9. Should vaccination be repeated in each pregnancy?
The Danish Health Authority recommends RSV vaccination in each pregnancy for women with a due date from July to March. Vaccination is therefore recommended in connection with the third antenatal appointment (around week 32) from 1 May to 31 January.
Can RSV vaccination be given at the same time as influenza and whooping cough vaccination?
It is recommended that there be at least two weeks between vaccination against whooping cough and vaccination against RSV disease to ensure the best possible effect of the vaccines.
Influenza vaccination can be given on the same day as RSV and whooping cough vaccination or at any interval.
10. What vaccinations are offered during pregnancy?
The following vaccinations are offered to pregnant women:
Whooping cough vaccination at week 25 with your GP, offered year-round.
RSV vaccination at week 32 by with your GP, offered from May to January.
Influenza vaccination in the second and third trimester from 1 October to 20 December at a regional vaccination site as part of the seasonal vaccination programme.
If you have a chronic disease or condition that puts you at increased risk of severe COVID-19, you are also offered vaccination against COVID-19 from 1 October to 20 December, regardless of whether you are pregnant.