Breastfeeding and the vaccine

[PintOfBovril]

I'm a front line NHS nurse and over the coming weeks we'll be offered the Coronavirus vaccination. I want to have it, for the personal health benefit and to protect those around me, especially my vulnerable patients. However I am hesitant due to the fact that I'm still breastfeeding and the vaccine hasn't been tested on lactating mothers. What are your thoughts on this? My LO is 13 months so I know I don't have to bf but neither of us is ready to stop yet.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
There is no known risk associated with giving inactivated, recombinant viral or bacterial vaccines or toxoids during pregnancy or whilst breast-feeding (Kroger A et al., 2013). Since inactivated vaccines cannot replicate, they cannot cause infection in either the mother or the fetus. Although AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine contains a live adenovirus vector, this virus is not replicating so will not cause infection in the mother or the fetus. As with most pharmaceutical products, specific clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women have not been carried out.

Taken from Chapter 14a - COVID-19 - SARS-Cov-2 document November 2020.

Same document advises against pregnant women having the vaccine. Advises vaccine to be postponed and given after pregnancy. Over than the above - I can't see anything about breastfeeding.

I was wondering this too. My baby is just under three months and I suspect I may not be offered a vaccine in the near future as I'm under 40 health risks etc.

I would speak to your boss /gp and ask if there is any information on it?

Following. I wanted to take part in the vaccine trials but was precluded because I'm breastfeeding.

No health risks*

Interesting @Char2015 thanks

I'm not sure either. I'm 40 and in good health with a six month-old. I intend to bf until she self-weans, I would imagine around 3 years if my son was anything to go by.

Also following, mine is 3 yrs old but still breastfeeding at night.

I contacted the breastfeeding network to see if they could offer guidance. They couldn't but did give an example of the flu vaccine being safe because what is injected can't then be passed on orally and having the flu vaccine would create antibodies that would be passed on in breast milk.

I watched the Zoe/covid vaccine zoom presentation and they were asked about pregnant women but the answer was really bumbled sadly - something about vulnerable populations being encouraged to take part in trails like people of different ethnicities and then no response

Honestly don't know though, and I don't expect a sensible answer from the government on it.

I doubt I will be a priority for a vaccine anyway but I personally wouldn’t be stopping breastfeeding in order to get one

(If that were required I mean)

I would contact the breastfeeding network for advice, see if they have any information yet.

PrivateD00r see PP

“ I contacted the breastfeeding network to see if they could offer guidance. They couldn't but did give an example of the flu vaccine being safe because what is injected can't then be passed on orally and having the flu vaccine would create antibodies that would be passed on in breast milk.”

Please don't take advice from the Internet on something this important. No matter how convincing someone sounds, you don't know if they're just repeating what they've read / heard elsewhere.

Personally, I'd stop breastfeeding and have the vaccine. Mine are way past that stage now, but that would be my personal choice

The last update I read from the Breastfeeding Network and the fantastic Wendy Jones was that they are waiting for MHRA approval and any further information before making a statement. I’m a doctor and currently breastfeeding my daughter, I am awaiting their statement eagerly!

That's useful Sing - thank you

@PintOfBovril thank you for raising this issue. I’m in a similar position - nurse with a 14 month old currently breastfeeding. To be honest it hadn’t crossed my mind till I read your post. I won’t be giving up breastfeeding to take the vaccine. Let’s hope it can be proven to be safe like many other vaccines ASAP.

Also following - 11 months into feeding DS but he has CMPA and has never taken a bottle/alternative to my breastmilk. BF ( or dairy free forumla is recommended until 2 )

This is from the green book, subject to mhra approval of specific vaccines.

@Missmonkeypenny

Also following - 11 months into feeding DS but he has CMPA and has never taken a bottle/alternative to my breastmilk. BF ( or dairy free forumla is recommended until 2 )

This is the same for me. 10 month old with CMPA and breastfeeding. She's also allergic to egg, which vaccines sometimes contain, so I imagine the vaccine will be off the cards for me for a while. I won't be giving up breastfeeding for a vaccine either. I'll be interested to hear the outcome of what's advised.

I'm bfing my toddler who 'doesn't need' to, but also is showing no signs of wanting to give up. I will give up bfing it means I cannot have the vaccine ( frontline nhs hcp) but I am very close to done anyway after almost 7 years total of pregnancy/ bfing!

It would be a much harder decision with a younger, more dependent child.

Pfizer info sheet says to "ask your doctor" about the vaccine if you're breastfeeding! What the fuck do they think my local GP is going to know that they don't?!

My slight concern is that it will be fine for breastfeeding but no one will give it to you if you declare that you are. I realise this vaccine will be administered differently, but when I tried to get the flu vaccine via the free service offered at work (I do not qualify for the free flu vaccine via the NHS) they refused when I said I was breastfeeding, and as above, I was told to contact my GP who wouldn’t have had a clue because as far as they are concerned I’m not offered one by then anyway. I’m guessing though that that was because they were a private company and were more cautious, like pharmacists can be

Following. I wanted to take part in the vaccine trials but was precluded because I'm breastfeeding.

Yes me too. I guess it’s just a liability thing though - pretty much every drug says “check with your dr if you’re breastfeeding” so I assume aren’t tested on breastfeeding women. I could be wrong though.

It's makes me so angry, trying to put the responsibility on doctors. Previous research shows vaccines are safe in breastfeeding. Il really hoping the breastfeeding network will say something. I'm an NHS worker and really don't want to be made to give up breastfeeding for the vaccine (I will, DS is old enough that he doesn't need it, but he doesn't want to give up)

I’m pretty upset about this too. My DD is 8 months old but I’ll be back in work on ICU in a couple of months. Was hoping to be able to keep feeding her.

As an aside, was chatting to a friend who asked her GP about a flu jab and was told it couldn’t be given in breastfeeding. She was surprised to hear I had had it. Of course it is a weighed up decision of risk and benefit but shame she was told a flat no.

@singme that GP was wrong, breastfeeding women can have the flu jab if they are in an eligible category, breastfeeding is not a contraindication to the vaccine.