Vaccination against influenza for pregnant women
Influenza is a common illness that affects Denmark every year during the autumn and winter months. Most pregnant women who contract influenza experience an uncomplicated course of the disease. However, pregnant women are at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from influenza with complications that can have health consequences for both the pregnant woman and the unborn child.
Vaccinating pregnant women against influenza reduces the risk of serious illness for both the pregnant woman and the unborn child. Therefore, the Danish Health Authority recommends that all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters be vaccinated against influenza from 1 October to 20 December 2025.
All pregnant women are offered free vaccination against influenza from 1 October to 20 December to prevent serious illness with influenza in the pregnant woman and the unborn child. The vaccination is given at a vaccination centre or at selected clinics at Danske Lægers Vaccinations Service (the Danish General Practitioners Vaccination Service), see where here.
Pregnant women can book an appointment at vacciner.dk from 29 September.
Questions and answers
1. Why does the Danish Health Authority recommend vaccination against influenza for pregnant women?
Influenza is a common illness caused by infection with the influenza virus, which in some cases can cause serious complications for the pregnant woman and the foetus, including low birth weight and premature birth.
When pregnant women are vaccinated against influenza, antibodies are transferred from the pregnant woman to the foetus.
The risk of the mother infecting the baby after birth is also reduced. In this way, both the pregnant woman and the newborn baby are protected against serious illness with complications due to influenza.
2. When should pregnant women be vaccinated against influenza?
The risk of complications from influenza increases the further along in the pregnancy you are. Therefore, vaccination against influenza is recommended in the autumn and winter seasons for all pregnant women in their second and third trimesters.
Pregnant women with other risk factors for severe influenza are recommended to get the influenza vaccination from the first trimester.
3. How do you book an appointment for vaccination?
From 29 September 2025, pregnant women can book an appointment for vaccination at vacciner.dk.
Vaccinations will be administered at regional vaccination centres and clinics (DLVS). You can get vaccinated here.
Pregnant women must use MitID to book an appointment at vacciner.dk. If you do not have MitID, you can get help booking or changing your vaccination appointment here:
North Denmark Region – Telephone: 97 64 84 63
Central Denmark Region – Telephone: 70 23 24 15
Region of Southern Denmark – Telephone: 70 20 06 60
Region Zealand – Telephone: 70 20 42 33
The Capital Region of Denmark – Telephone: 38 64 99 01
4. Should you be vaccinated with each new pregnancy?
The Danish Health Authority recommends that pregnant women be vaccinated against influenza with each new pregnancy if they are in their second or third trimester during the autumn and winter period. The vaccination programme is available from 1 October to 20 December 2025.
You are not protected against influenza even if you have had the disease before or have been vaccinated previously. This is because there are several types of influenza, and the influenza virus can change from year to year. In addition, the effect of the vaccination wears off after about six months.
5. Is the vaccine safe for the pregnant woman and the foetus?
It is well documented that influenza vaccination of pregnant women is safe for both the pregnant woman and the foetus. Furthermore, there is extensive experience with vaccinating pregnant women against influenza, both in Denmark and abroad.
6. Are there any side effects from the vaccine?
The most common side effects are mild and short-lived, such as reactions and tenderness at the injection site, headache, muscle pain and discomfort. The risk of serious side effects is very small.
7. What vaccinations are available for pregnant women?
The following vaccinations are currently offered to pregnant women:
Whooping cough vaccination is offered in pregnancy week 25 by your own doctor throughout the year.
RSV vaccination is offered in pregnancy week 32 by your own doctor from May to January (starting in October 2025).
Influenza vaccination is offered in the second and third trimesters from 1 October to 20 December 2025, for example at a regional vaccination centre as part of the seasonal vaccination programme.
If you have a chronic disease or condition that puts you at risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, you are also eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 from 1 October to 20 December, regardless of whether you are pregnant or not.
Read more about vaccination against influenza and COVID-19 for people aged 65 and over