Would you have a fourth Covid jab if pregnant?

[roarfeckingroarr]

Just that really. I've had my first three without worrying but I wasn't pregnant then. I'm 34, usually slim, no health conditions.

I don't want the fourth but can't really articulate why not. I think it's partly because I don't feel scared of Covid at all and partly because I don't want to take any risks with pregnancy and a fairly new drug.

If you read it, you’d see that clinical trials on pregnant women (so including placebo vaccines) started in Feb 2021. This was after trials on non pregnant women, so far from “an experimental vaccine” as you call it.

Debating the way that clinical trials are run/recorded etc with people who are wildly mistrusting of the vaccine is pointless and exhausting, so I won’t engage with you. Suffice to say, we live in a free world where we can either believe in science, or not. The world has opened up again, and we don’t need to convince anyone of our own opinions.

How about these?

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide on pregnancy and breastfeeding

COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

Your immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy. Women who get covid while pregnant tend to get it rather severely. You will also be protecting your baby by passing along the antibodies.

No I wouldn't. I had 3 doses when pregnant and think that was more than enough. I got covid when my baby was a few weeks old and was practically symptomless.

Here's a study from JAMA

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines During Pregnancy

Over the past 14 months, a substantial body of evidence supporting the safety of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy has accumulated. Observational studies from Norway, Israel, and the US have reported that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines administered during pregnancy were not associated with increased risk for miscarriage, preterm birth, or other select obstetric and birth outcomes.8-11

In this issue of JAMA, 2 population-based observational retrospective studies evaluating outcomes in more than 250 000 pregnancies from 3 countries together provide the strongest evidence to date regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy.12,13

Watch the "Safe and Effective" documentary on YouTube. And then don't get the jab.

No I wouldn't because it triggered my period early last time and I wouldn't want it causing me a miscarriage/kick start labour early.

It’s a bit of an open ended question that though isn’t it? What are you defining as long term? There’s no satisfying answer unless you have parameters that are clear.

You’re right that the longer time goes on the harder it would be to link anything to one particular cause without quantifiable evidence due to individual factors. Who knows, maybe the rubella vaccine is responsible for obesity? How would you prove it?

OP, I’m not pregnant but I absolutely would have a booster because pregnancy suppresses your immune system and covid can reduce your oxygen which has proven consequences for babies.

I obviously can't be sure, but I believe my last covid booster contributed to miscarriage. I found out I was pregnant a couple of days after having my booster, miscarried at 6 weeks. I would never have another one while pregnant :(

Definitely

I didn't have any covid jabs throughout my pregnancy and still don't have any now. Got a healthy 5 month old.

I had the first three but something is stopping me getting a fourth. I'm 31 weeks, and just can't shake a weird feeling.

AFAIK they haven't been any observable effects following vaccine in pregnancy.

There is however a growing body of evidence about the adverse effects of having covid during pregnancy. This is not just the risk of more severe disease in the mother (esp cardiovascular risk) ad a small increase in rate of premature and preterm birth, but also some lung and brain issues in the newborns.

CAVEAT: this sort of research is still very much work in progress, and extent of effect is still not fully understood (and indeed may yet prove to be not significant). But if you are risk adverse, then your odds are better with the vaccine than with the disease

I got the first 2 injections when I was pregnant and the booster just after she was born. She is nearly 1 and is absolutely perfect so yes I would absolutely get it to protect yourself and the baby

I wouldn't. If you've had the other jabs and have had covid, that's enough.

I didn't give my kids the third vaccine for exactly that reason. It's not giving them additional immunity and they're healthy and they got through covid with barely a sniffle or cough. Why keep plugging them with stuff?

I'm not pregnant and have been offered the 4th but I just feel like having 4 is way OTT. I can't think of any other illnesses you need all these vaccinations for all within a few months!

It's because protection wears off

It's just like getting repeat cholera shots, if you remain in an area where the disease is present.

Others wear off too, and repeats are required.

This is neither new nor unique for covid

you get flu vaccine every year. and there hasn't been a virus as nasty as covid before covid appeared.

I am offered the flu vaccine every year. And every year I decline. Just like I did with the covid vaccines.

When I had covid I was fine, as was my son. No symptoms at all, wouldn't have known we had it.

My husband (also unvaccinated) was poorly with it though. My daughter was a bit rough, but nothing bad. Seems to affect people differently.

Had three previous covid jabs. Now pregnant and won’t be having another jab. I had covid recently (second trimester) and it wasn’t that bad. Just felt very tired so I rested. The jab doesn’t stop you getting it and I’ve had it now, it wasn’t that bad so very likely wouldn’t be bad next time either, so what’s the point in getting the jab for me? It’s up to the individual and they shouldn’t be shamed for their decision.

Seems to affect people differently

Yes definitely. It really is quite random who gets it badly. Some of the risk factors are quite well known, but then people with none of those also get it severely, or get debilitating long covid, or have a stroke, or a baby with reduced lung function, or any of the many things that we now know covid can do.

And of course we don't know the long term effects (will it be like chicken pox/shingles in the sense that even a mild initial illness can cause something nasty later) let alone whether repeated infections alters that risk

Your choice, of course. I think it's stupidity but you have the right to make bad decisions

A friend of mine developed a heart condition that they said is a direct (albeit rare) side effect of the vaccine. Previously a very fit and active man. It’s changed his whole life. It has made me think twice about having any more of the vaccines (I’ve had three so far). It’s a tricky one.

i totally agree. People are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with regard to effects from the vaccines.

A lot less rare than you imagine. My dh now has a pacemaker previously no heart issues or family history, he’s had 3 vaccines.