There is good evidence that pregnant women/birthing people have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. One of the most common complications of flu is bronchitis – a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.
If you have flu while you're pregnant, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birthweight and may even lead to stillbirth. Flu can be very serious for babies. When you have a flu vaccine while pregnant, it continues to help protect your baby for up to six months after they are born.
You can have the flu vaccine at any time during your pregnancy. The flu vaccine is recommended every time you’re pregnant, even if you have had the vaccine before. Getting vaccinated each flu season protects you against new strains of the virus and reduces the risk of spreading flu to your baby.