I've copied and pasted this announcement from the breastfeeding network. I am breathing a MASSIVE sigh of relief that I, as a nurse who works with COVID patients, can continue to feed my 11 month old. (They had previously said not to have it)
Hopefully this helps others of you
This was confirmed in the technical briefing this morning but updates from the government sites. Both the Oxford/Astra Zenica vaccine and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine can be given to breastfeeding mothers.
If you, as a front line worker , have recently stopped breastfeeding then you may wish to talk to the national breastfeeding helpline about relactation but you may also be happy that this was the right decision for you. We strive to support individual, informed decisions based on the best data we have.
We appreciate that not everyone will wish to take the vaccine when breastfeeding and that is a personal choice. We believe trials will be undertaken soon by breastfeeding mothers who are willing to be involved in a study.
Not all government pages will be updated today we suspect, due to the Christmas and New Year holidays.
www.gov.uk/government/news/oxford-universityastrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-approved Additional updates relating to use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) has also reviewed further data for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine as it has become available and has recommended the following changes:
"Women who are breastfeeding can also be given the vaccine. This advice is in line with pregnancy and breastfeeding advice for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine"
www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-from-the-uk-chief-medical-officers-on-the-prioritisation-of-first-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines The JCVI has also amended its previous highly precautionary advice on COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy or breastfeeding. Vaccination with either vaccine in pregnancy should be considered where the risk of exposure SARS-CoV2 infection is high and cannot be avoided, or where the woman has underlying conditions that place her at very high risk of serious complications of COVID-19, and the risks and benefits of vaccination should be discussed. Those who are trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination, and breastfeeding women may be offered vaccination with either vaccine following consideration of the woman’s clinical need for immunisation against COVID-19. The UK Chief Medical Officers agree with this advice.