Covid 19 vaccine

[lingster]

Hi everyone, I’m an NHS employee and have now been offered the Pfizer vaccine. I’ve been holding off as I don’t know much about it, and have heard that pregnant women are not being offered the Vaccine, as they don’t know the effect it might have on them. I wondered if there’s anyone in this community who knows if it is safe to have the vaccine, for someone who is trying? Thanks in advance for all your help.

[Sarah_37]

Hello! I’ve been offered the vaccine too as I work in pharmacy and I’m currently pregnant. I spoke to my midwife about it and she basically said the choice was mine. I’ve read the guidelines from rcog who say it’s a good idea if high risk eg diabetic, hypertension, over 35 but that it’s not routinely recommended in preg. It’s a really hard decision but I’ve opted to wait a bit til there is more info but all my colleagues have had it so at least they will give me some protection. Think if I wasn’t already pregnant but trying I would probably go for it and then be protected for when pregnant 🤞buts it’s a personal choice weighing up the risks and benefits xxx

[Sarah_37 in reply to Sarah_37]

rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-r... if you wanted to have a look x

[Ketkoot]

Hi. I am/was frontline NHS staff and currently 23 weeks pregnant. I have also been recommended to not have the vaccine until after she has been born.

If u r not pregnant yet I would really consider your options, if it was this time last year I think we would have stopped trying so I could have had the vaccine. I haven’t seen my family in over a year (they are in a different country) and have no idea when I might get to see them next. Plus I have had to work from home which is torture for me!!

U just need to make the right choice for u! Good luck x

[1bin]

I am starting my ivf treatment tomorrow and was told not to get the vaccine. I was also told, people who are pregnant not to get it either. It should tell you on NHS website x

[leo1980]

I asked the same question. I was told if you had the first dose before treatment it was fine. You shouldn’t take it during treatment or if you have a confirmed pregnancy/pregnant.

[Helen41]

I work for the NHS and asked the same question when I was offered at the start of January as I am due to start stims from tomorrow. I was told it was fine to go ahead so I have had the first jab. If I do get pregnant, will delay the second jab but at least i have some protection.

[Notebook84]

I had a consultation with our consultant yesterday and was advised to take the vaccine whilst trying to conceive as it’s just a precaution to avoid for 3 months prior to conception, the guidance changed at the end of December from RCOG rcog.org.uk/en/news/covid-1...

Advised is not to take if pregnant or breastfeeding as research has not been carried out.

X

[Mai94]

Hello, I’ve had mine! I’m a nurse and was originally not going to but then the JCVI changed their guidance stating you do not have to wait 3 months to conceive. My consultant advised I have it also and I’m due to have a transfer March sometime. I’m having my second vaccine next week. I’m really glad i have been able to get it done before pregnancy, although they are saying vaccination can be considered if you are at an increased risk and working frontline is mentioned as a cause for consideration ... I thought get it now and then I don’t won’t need to consider if transfers successful x

[SunnyMc]

Hi I work in a nhs hospital and have been offered the vaccine. My clinic have advised that also due to the guidelines changing in Dec that I don’t need to hold off getting pregnant after the vaccine. However I have been advised to go for the Oxford vaccine instead of the Pfizer (this due to a few different things including allergies). However if I became pregnant I think I’d hold off on taking the second dose.

[Msze]

I’m pregnant now so nervous to get it but if you aren’t def get it! I wish i had that opportunity before i became pregnant.

[Green-elephants]

You can have the vaccine if trying but if pregnant you can't have the vaccine. The guidelines changed. I also work in the nhs, I have had my first dose.

[Sarah_37]

Version 1: Published 12 January 2021

I am pregnant and have been offered a COVID-19

vaccination. What are my options?

Vaccination is being offered to some pregnant women including health and social care workers and those with high risk medical conditions

Trials testing the vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women have not yet been completed. Whether to get the vaccine in pregnancy is your choice. The information below will help you make an informed choice about whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Who can be vaccinated?

COVID-19 vaccination is only offered to two groups of pregnant women:

1. Those with high risk medical conditions (clinically extremely vulnerable) who have a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19

2. Health or social care workers – who are at very high risk of catching COVID-19

Your options:

Get a COVID-19 vaccine

or

Wait for more information about the vaccine in pregnancy

Underlying medical conditions include:

organ transplant

currently undergoing cancer treatment

bone marrow or stem cell transplant in the last 6 months

significant lung condition, e.g. cystic fibrosis or severe asthma

conditions that significantly increases the risk of infection, e.g. severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) or homozygous sickle cell disease

currently taking medication to suppress your immune system, sufficient to increase the risk of infection

conditions affecting your spleen, including. having your spleen removed Down’s syndrome

significant kidney conditions and/or on dialysis

significant heart conditions; or

your hospital doctor or GP feels that there are other reasons why you may get more severe illness if you develop COVID-19

If you are not a health or social care worker and do not have any of these medical conditions, then you will not currently be offered vaccination during pregnancy.

What are the benefits of

the vaccination?

COVID-19 may be more dangerous in pregnancy

Studies have shown that hospital admission and severe illness may be more common in pregnant women (compared to those not pregnant), especially those in the third trimester of pregnancy, and that preterm birth is more likely (compared to pregnant women without COVID-19). Pregnant women with underlying medical conditions are at higher risk of severe illness.

Vaccination is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection

You cannot get COVID-19 from vaccination

COVID-19 vaccines do NOT contain live coronavirus Vaccines do NOT contain any additional ingredients that are harmful to pregnant women or their babies

Other non-live vaccines (whooping cough, influenza) are considered to be safe for pregnant women and their unborn babies.

What are the risks of the

vaccination?

The COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been tested specifically in pregnant women

COVID-19 vaccines have been given to large numbers of people to ensure they meet stringent standards of effectiveness and safety.

Insufficient evidence is available for pregnant women, although available data do not indicate any safety concern or harm to pregnancy. More information may come from studies in the future. We do not know whether the vaccine works as well in pregnancy.

We do not know whether there are unique downsides in pregnancy, like different side effects, an increased risk of miscarriage or problems with the baby’s development

Side effects from the vaccine are common. These do not affect pregnancy, but may include:

injection site reactions (sore arm)

fatigue headache

muscle pain fever, chills joint pain

If you think that you may be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, please discuss this with your hospital doctor or midwife.

If you decide to have a COVID-19 vaccine, please tell the vaccination team that you are pregnant so that this can be recorded.

Further information, Q&As, and the latest version of this leaflet are available at rcog.org.uk/coronavirus-pregnancy

[Gemgem84]

Hi LingsterI manage a care provider and I was due to have the vaccine over a week ago... I’ve been delayed with my IVF for two years due to one thing and another. My husband and I agreed I would have the vaccine as we honestly couldn’t see them starting treatment any time soon.

As soon as I booked my vaccine, our clinic phoned and said they were ready for me to start treatment! I asked about the vaccine and was told it would cause at least a 6 month delay in my treatment, due to the 3 month gap between first and second doses.

I have gone ahead with the IVF and I’ll have the vaccine at a later date. I started my injections on Wednesday. I thought we’d never get to this point and I just couldn’t wait any longer. That said, I’m now super anxious about catching Covid as I’m still working. I go back to clinic on Wednesday and I then have to isolate for the remainder of my cycle.

I think it’s something really personal that only you can decide xxx