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Original poster

AstraZeneca vaccine in pregnancy

59 replies

KellyABC · 04/08/2021 18:21

I had my first AstraZeneca vaccine and then got pregnant. Now been told that Pfizer and Moderna are the ones recommended in pregnancy and that there's almost no info about the AZ in pregnancy. Apparently I still have to have the AZ as my second dose. I haven't really found anything to reassure me that this is ok. Is anyone else in the same boat and what are your thoughts? Has anyone received reassurance on this? Thanks!

OP posts:
MRex · 04/08/2021 18:26

My friend had the second dose a couple of months ago; she'd actually been pregnant for the first but hadn't realised. All still going well for her. Best to check in with your midwife or any consultant involved in your care though about your own personal risks, they should know more. Good luck!

Mangomammy · 04/08/2021 20:51

You don’t “have to have” anything…especially while pregnant.

Italiandreams · 04/08/2021 20:55

I would get medical advice as don’t think they will actually give you AZ if you are pregnant anyway. They were very careful when I had my vaccines to ensure I had the correct one.

zippityzip · 04/08/2021 20:58

I had my first dose of AZ when pregnant and second a few months PP 🤷🏼‍♀️ no issues whatsoever.

Original poster
KellyABC · 05/08/2021 06:53

Thanks, that's reassuring. I really want to have it, just wish I had had the Pfizer initially as there is more data on that one.

OP posts:
Honeydukesmum · 05/08/2021 11:04

I had AZ at 32 weeks pregnant as the advice them was either AZ or Pfizer was same in terms of risk/benefit. Second dose at 1 month postnatal. No known issues. They changed advice to Pfizer/Moderna few weeks after I had it so was a bit 😖 but glad had it in end .

TakeYourFinalPosition · 05/08/2021 11:22

I had mine at 15 weeks - for the same reason, first one before I knew and after a lot of debate, there was no way to change the vaccine I got.

All is fine, 20+4 now.

Original poster
KellyABC · 05/08/2021 18:08

Thanks, good to know. A gp I spoke to said that they may allow mixing of vaccines soon but not an option yet.

OP posts:
Duckyneedsaclean · 05/08/2021 18:16

I had both doses of AZ when pregnant. The first was before they recommended pfizer/moderns, the second was afterwards but wanted to complete the course.

All fine, and no side effects from second dose.

EdgeOfACoin · 06/08/2021 05:37

The only reason they're recommending Pfizer and Moderna for pregnant women is because those were the jabs that were given out in the US and Israel. Neither country used AZ (purely because they happened to stock different drugs, not because of any other reason - just like the UK doesn't have stocks of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). The NHS has been more cautious and didn't want to vaccinate pregnant women at all in the early stages. There is now so much data on Pfizer and Moderna, thanks to US and Israel, that the NHS is willing to recommend those vaccines. However, it's not because there is anything wrong with the AZ vaccine.

In fact, the AZ vaccine works in a more similar way to existing vaccines on the market (eg the flu jab) which are routinely given to pregnant women. The Pfizer jab works slightly differently. There is no reason to believe that AZ vaccine would be more harmful to pregnant women than the flu jab.

I had Pfizer because that was what was being given to 30-somethings at the time I became eligible for the vaccine. However, I would have happily had Astra Zeneca.

Original poster
KellyABC · 06/08/2021 11:24

Thanks. I find that it's similar to the flu vaccine reassuring.

OP posts:
WildDamsel · 06/08/2021 14:44

Thanks for the post, I'm also due to have the AZ soon (had first pre pregnancy)

Zulu933 · 07/08/2021 08:13

Hi @KellyABC I am in exactly the same boat as you. I had my AZ 3 wks before I got pregnant. I’ve not yet had my second jab and I’m now 20 weeks. Everything seems to be pointing to have it and my husband really wants me to get protected particularly as I’m due in December (midst of winter where infections could peak again). I’m very close to booking my appointment. How are you getting on, are you going to proceed?

Zulu933 · 07/08/2021 08:20

Hi @loll84 here is the trail I mentioned.

Loll84 · 07/08/2021 14:43

Thanks so much @Zulu933, that's really helpful. I'm still a bit unsure what to do, now at 17 weeks but thinking probably best to get done before winter. How are you getting on? X

Zulu933 · 07/08/2021 17:02

You’re welcome @Loll84. It’s great that @KellyABC started this very recent post especially since the UK Head Midwife urged all pregnant women very recently to get jabbed but yet the gov and medical data doesn’t consider enough the concerns of those like all of us in this thread who are already part AZ jabbed. Some data must be available to publish on how many women have had the AZ whilst pregnant but yet there’s nothing anywhere about it which is poor. I know I’ve going through stress deciding about it all and I’m sure many others have too which is really unfortunate for us ladies who are in this predicament.

I’m 20 weeks and I’m same as you in that I’m likely to get it done before winter because the risks of getting covid in 3rd trimester is of course more of the worry it seems.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I’ll continue to report back here x

DGFB · 07/08/2021 17:05

I would have it without hesitation. You had no reaction to the first dose so you will be fine. It’s true there is data for Pfizer in pregnancy but - as I’m sure any midwife or GP will tell you - the data for AZ will be forthcoming and is expected to be the same

Loll84 · 07/08/2021 18:02

Personally I would like to see the published data for all of the vaccines on the number of pregnant women who've received them and then number of side effects e.g. any links to miscarriage. I'd also like to see open information on how similar construct wise the vaccines are to other vaccines considered safe in pregnancy e.g. flu. which would reduce any anxiety on any long term impacts that there wouldnt be real time data on for years. I cant find medical answers on most of this with the data to back it up

Zulu933 · 07/08/2021 18:07

Thanks @DGFB. That’s the issue. My GP had said it was “up to me” and my midwife said if you’re concerned about no data then maybe wait a little longer to see if any data comes out. GP’s and midwives are clear in recommending and pushing Pfizer but they know (as per JCVI) that there isn’t yet published evidence on AZ so haven’t been as forthcoming to encourage that one but yes they do repeat Gov advice ie. “if you’ve had one AZ already then get your second, however data is still being gathered on this jab and pregnancy”. :-/ I’m probably particularly over anxious as I’ve been trying to become a Mum for 7 years and have gone through hell to get this far and just can’t afford any extra risks and to have to make a decision on having a vaccine with no published data about it is seriously a horrid decision to make.

Zulu933 · 07/08/2021 18:15

@Loll84 yes seeing public data on all the pregnant women who’ve had it would really help I agree. If for example they even said 1000 preg women have had it and to date no issues then that’s some assurance for us. Surely they must have had enough jabbed to start sharing data even if it’s only 500 or something. I do know the AZ vaccine is a “viral vector” based vaccine which is the same type of vaccine as Ebola, HIV and Flu (these all have proven to be safe for pregnancy) but of course there are other mixes in the covid vaccine which is new and what we worry about. I’m sure the experts know what they’re doing and it’s perfectly fine and we’ll look back at this one day and wonder why we were so worried 🙂 but the unknown is always going to cause worry.

Loll84 · 07/08/2021 18:42

Thanks @Zulu933, yes its just such an extra worry. On the MHRA yellow card site for AstraZeneca it has 171 reports of miscarriage but I have no idea what % of pregnant women this is who have had the vaccine either. I think I'll try to chat to the GP again but probably will just go for it

DGFB · 07/08/2021 19:20

Of course you’re anxious, I get that. Pregnancy is an awful time for worry. But Covid in third trimester would be awful. On balance, you are very much more likely to be safe with a vaccine

WildDamsel · 07/08/2021 20:16

They say there are est. 250,000 miscarriages in the UK per year. 25-75% of pregnancies , depending on your age. 171 looks like a scary number at first, but might not be if you take into account how horribly common it is. The lack of AZ data in pregnancy is frustrating. I had my second AZ vaccine at 12 weeks today. I went to my local surgey covid clinic as I hoped there would be a GP there to discuss any last minute concerns with. Luckily there was and he was happy for me to have the vaccine, even with slightly low blood platelets (mine always drop in pregnancy). For me, the risk of covid exposure due to my work and having a child in pre school was too high not to. Also having been through miscarriage before and read up about it, I feel the biggest risk to it happening again (or any other issues) is my age, rather than anything I do or don't do. Hopefully future data will show it to be safe in pregnancy, other than the risks already known and widely reported. All the best to everyone, whatever they decide to do.

Original poster
KellyABC · 10/08/2021 11:19

Thanks @Zulu933. I'm now due to have my second dose next week (at about 15 weeks). I'm still stressed about it and wondering if I should postpone it. I have found this pregnancy very nerve wracking anyway due to a previous loss and this isn't helping.

I wish they'd offered the Pfizer to everyone who was planning a child or of child-bearing age given that there is data about it. However, there's nothing we can do about it now.

What's also a bit odd is that there seems to be no coverage of people in our situation at all in the media etc. It's like we don't exist. The main advice is just that we should have the Pfizer.

OP posts:
WildDamsel · 10/08/2021 12:27

@KellyABC I totally agree about media coverage, the lack of it is frustrating.. I was particularly annoyed when the BBC ran a news article which stated "all pregnant women have been offered the pzifer or moderna, in line with their age group" like all pregnant women are under 40. They adjusted the article with a few hours I'm sure they must have received complaints. It is so hard to make a decision, I probably would have waited till nearer the third trimester (the most risky time for covid) of it wasn't for the fact I felt so exposed. I now have a son at home on isolation after a covid contact, so hopefully I made the best decision I could based on my risks. Not easy.