Are you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Pregnant women are offered a number of vaccinations to protect both their own health and that of their baby. These vaccinations are offered by Public Health Bonaire, at the main location or at the Youth Health Care department.
3 vaccinations are offered during pregnancy:
Whooping cough vaccination (22-week shot)
Around the 22nd week of pregnancy, the mother receives a vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DTK). This protects the baby against pertussis in the first 3 months after birth.
- You can get the whooping cough vaccination at the Youth Health Care department of the Municipal Health Service (Public Health Bonaire). Your midwife will inform you about this.
- The whooping cough vaccination is free of charge for pregnant women.
Flu shot
Newborn babies and pregnant women are at a higher risk of serious consequences from the flu, such as shortness of breath or hospitalization. The flu shot reduces the chance of catching the flu and becoming seriously ill from it, for both the baby and yourself. On Bonaire, the flu occurs mainly during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.
- During pregnancy, you can only get the flu shot if you are 22 weeks pregnant or longer between October 15 and March 1.
- You can get the flu shot from your own general practitioner or Public Health Bonaire.
- The flu shot is free of charge for pregnant women.
COVID-19 vaccination
COVID-19 vaccination is no longer offered as standard to pregnant women. It is strongly recommended that pregnant women with health problems (lung, heart, liver, or kidney conditions, diabetes, and obesity) only get vaccinated against COVID-19. These pregnant women have a higher risk of serious illness due to COVID-19, such as shortness of breath or hospitalization.
- You can get the COVID-19 vaccination at Public Health Bonaire.
- The COVID-19 vaccination is free of charge for pregnant women.
