28 weeks pregnant & been offered vaccine - WWYD?

[dellarossa]

Hello! I’m currently 28 weeks pregnant and have been offered the vaccine next week through work (I work in social care with vulnerable people and we have all been offered it, although my role isn’t frontline & I’m currently home-based).

I’m late twenties & no underlying health conditions so wasn’t expecting to be offered the vaccine before my baby is born in May, but now I have been I’m considering it... I know it’s not recommended for pregnant women due to lack of testing, but I have a couple of pregnant friends who are also CEV who have been given it, and I know there’s no live virus in it so it doesn’t ‘give you Covid’.

I’ve never been particularly nervous about Covid due to my age and being healthy (I do know that doesn’t guarantee anything before anyone points it out!) but I am starting to get a bit apprehensive now I’m going into my third trimester as I really wouldn’t want to risk getting ill now for my baby’s sake!

I’ve asked DH and a couple of friends who have expressed different opinions, so interested if anyone here has had the vaccine while pregnant, or knows anyone who has? I am going to ask my midwife too. Thanks!

From what I've read any pregnant woman who is offered the vaccine should discuss it with their doctor to weigh up the pros and cons. I think it's more if the risk to you contracting it through work etc is greater and it would be beneficial to have it a few months earlier or not.

My baby is due in June and I wont be having the jab until after he is born.

I'm due in 7 weeks and I won't be having it until after baby arrives.

I am having Oxford because I don't want a mrna vaccine. I have no interest in medication that involves dna esp when long term effects for my baby are unknown.

If it were me, I'd have it (AZeoukd be my choice as it's a known 'base')

I've read a lot about it and can't see any reason not to. The way it's formulated means it's basically a know vaccination with some small tweaks.

Best thing to do though is read as much as you can & speak to your GP (rather than midwife)

I wouldn't hesitate though as long Covid would be dreadful to have with a small baby.

If I was in your place, I'd deffo go for it.
I dont want to scaremonger but I have a cousin who had covid around the time she was due. They did an emergency c section on her, delivered the baby and she was put on a ventilator. She developed a clot in her lungs while on the ventilator. Luckily she managed to come off the ventilator but she now has a tracheostomy and she's being slowly bought out of an Induced coma. She can talk a bit but it's a long way untill she's fully recovered.
Don't take the chance, take the vaccine if you're being offered it. You baby needs you health and alive.

I personally would have it.
I went through a similar dilemma back in 2010 when I was around 25 weeks pregnant. The swine flu vaccine had not been tested on Pregnant women but I travelled to work each day on a packed bus so I went ahead and had it.
All was fine.

Speak to your GP as they can advise you with respect to your specific situation.

I’m 22 weeks and had mine today. I’m covid patient facing until 28 weeks and have some personal risk factors so after much deliberating decided to have it. There’s no theoretical risk of non live vaccine and getting covid in late pregnancy can lead to severe disease and preterm labour.
There’s a really good decision aid from RCOG here www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2021-02-24-combined-info-sheet-and-decision-aid.pdf

Good luck with your decision making

I am currently 14 weeks and will have the vaccine if all ok at my 20 week scan. The way I see it is 28 weeks is when a pregnant lady is at the highest risk regardless of underlying conditions or not (i also have none) but by 20 weeks baby will be big enough and develop led enough for the vaccine. Baby will be ok and I will be protected by the 28 week mark high risk period. I'm also NHS but on desk duty due to pregnancy. I personally don't want to end up on a ventilator because I'm pregnant like @Liveandletlive3 describes.

It's a personal choice and everyone has a different risk vs benefit profile.

Have you seen this fact sheet that may help you weigh up the risk Vs benefit?

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2021-01-12-covid-19-vaccine-info-sheet.pdf