AstraZeneca vaccine in pregnancy

[KellyABC]

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!

Hi @KellyABC. Sorry to hear you’ve had previous loss 💔. Same for me (pre-covid times) and still not a mum yet and this is furthest along I’ve ever got after trying for 7 years (I’ve suffered from recurrent miscarriage/all early pregnancy losses).

I agree, it’s so bad that they have no data published about our situation (like we don’t exist). We’re almost 9 months in since AZ jab came out but yet they haven’t shared any stats on the number of pregnant women having had the AZ jab.

I feel there’s likely to have been many preg women who’ve had the AZ jab but why should we be left to guess about it.

They have made it clear that there have been no issues with any of the jabs (incl AZ) and pregnancy which is good to hear.

There is also info advising that AZ has been tested on pregnant animals and been no issues.

How I’m feeling now is that I’m pretty confident that if the Gov and NHS are recommending pregnant women to have their 2nd AZ jab if they’ve already had their first you would sincerely hope they’d never give such recommendation if they weren’t 100% sure.

I too am due this weekend to get my 2nd jab (third time I’ve booked it as I keep changing my mind! lol). I’ll be 21 weeks this weekend and thinking I should get it in good time prior to 3rd trimester plus I am due to have whooping cough vaccine before 32 weeks so want to ensure the two vaccines have plenty of space apart from one another (ie. at least 4 weeks apart).

It’s so tough the decision for us I know but we can only go by Gov advice and recommendation and if they’re saying we’re at higher risk of issues if we catch covid in 3rd trimester then it makes sense to get jabbed.

Saying that (!) I could literally isolate at my mum and dad’s house (which is empty) for my last trimester if I really wanted to but I’d miss my husband 😂. He is my risk as he has to go on trains for his work and is my only risk really (other than me going to hospital appointments etc).

We just don’t know what the picture will be this winter which again makes me want to get jabbed in case infection rates soar again.

I’ll let you know if I go ahead with my 2nd jab this Sunday. 🙂

So sorry to hear of your previous losses and challenges @KellyABC and @Zulu933. Keeping everything crossed for you this time.

Finding it really helpful people sharing what they know and are thinking on here. The media coverage is really stressful - a Guardian article yesterday on number of hospitalizations of pregnant women with covid put me in a spiral again and then if you read all the comments! But as you say, only ever mentions Pfizer/moderna too! I'm gonna see if can have a chat with GP or midwife again but cant see feasible way of getting through next months without getting jabbed and not worrying uncontrollably!

I had 1st jab end of march now so also wondering whether 2nd jab will give me full cover 5 months later?

@Loll84 @KellyABC have you read this? Came out end of July - see “Pregnancy” paragraph on page 19. The AZ is a “viral vector” based vaccine which is same vaccine basis as Ebola and Flu (and those vaccines have been proven safe for pregnant women).
This fills me with that little bit more confidence. I think! 😄

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1007737/Greenbook_chapter_14a_30July2021.pdf

Hi @Loll84 re. Your question about coverage for next 5 months - I’d check with the GP or the actual vaccine clinic who will do the jab about that. I think it’s still all unknown about the length of effectiveness that all the vaccines give and only more time might only be able to give that a definite answer. You can get yourself an antibody test though to see how high the antibodies are in your system - I think they are around £50-70 to buy and are a finger prick test. So you could take that test say 4 months after your jab just to see your antibody levels which may help fill you with confidence in terms of your protection level against the virus.

www.nuffieldhealth.com/covid-19-antibody-test

Thanks very much @Zulu933 - great idea on the antibody test I hadnt thought of!

Hi OP,
I had both does of AZ when pregnant - as did lots of my colleagues that were vaccinated as part of working in the NHS (we had our first before the advice changed). My little man is ten weeks old and currently in arms feeding, healthy and happy.

I understand your hesitation but something to note is that the lack of data is cumulative - most of us that had AZ had it in early days when they were not specifically focusing on pregnancy as a high risk area (in the UK). Now, as so many are having moderna etc. it’s easier for them to build the evidence base. One reason the data supports them is because the USA and Israel both supported pregnant women accessing the vaccine, from early in the pandemic. So they’ve been collecting data for longer.

@MissingCoffeeandWine thank you, that is really reassuring and congratulations on your healthy little man!

I also had AZ in pregnancy and all was fine. Frustrating that the stats are not available.

@MissingCoffeeandWine congratulations and thanks for sharing this - it’s all so helpful 👍🏻

@MotherOfCrocodiles. Thank you for sharing 👍🏻

@Zulu933 - thanks for the link. That does sound quite comforting. I really want to have mine - just wondering also when the best point in pregnancy is to have it. @Loll84 - I have also been worried about how far apart the doses can be. I will talk to my gp about that - but let me know if you find out anything!

4 days since my second AZ vaccination and just had my 12 week scan, all good!! Very relieved after previous pregnancy loss. Thanks to everyone who has shared their AZ stories

@WildDamsel - that's great news about your scan! So pleased for you. The 12 week scan is nerve wracking at the best of times.

@Zulu933

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?

Hi Zulu. I am now 23 weeks and I had my first AZ jab before I knew I was pregnant. When I went for my second one, the chap refused to give it to me because I was pregnant (16w) and advised me to call my GP. My GP called me the following week and said he had checked the guidance and that he would be more than willing to give it to me himself. It wasn't convenient so I had the second at 19 weeks - admittedly I was nervous but I had no side effects. What made my decision for me was exactly what you are saying: I am due at the very beginning of December. Who knows what the status of Covid 19 will be then, but as we enter into winter and flu season, I just don't want that extra worry. Your immune system drops dramatically during and post birth, and I would just prefer if I go forward with my choice of ELCS, to be protected from a really nasty bout of corona whilst recovering from that. Good luck with your decision making.

Hi @chippedchocolate. Thanks for this - glad to hear you had no side effects. Just wondering, was it a while ago that they refused to give you the second vaccine when you went to the vaccine centre? I'm wondering if there has since been a change of policy.

So my first jab was 24 March, second was scheduled for the 15 June. I ended up having it on 30 June.

I think advice changed / was updated between the two, and that people were urged to follow the program and have the same vaccination as they had originally been given, even though alternative vaccinations had been offered to pregnant women.

I just googled it and came across this article, updates were made on 16 April so directly between my first and second doses:

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinical-areas/womens-health/gps-told-to-cancel-planned-az-vaccinations-of-pregnant-women/

Must admit at my 20 week scan it was a relief to see a lot of movement and growth at the rate expected, but I don't think I would have been so worried if the chap had just given me the jab at the time I was supposed to have that second one... gave me the heebie jeebies!

Hi @WildDamsel and @chippedchocolate thanks so much for sharing and well done for going for it ! I agree, the benefits of 2nd jab are definitely worth it. I’m more ready for my appointment now on Sunday. :-)

@chippedchicolate how funny, my first jab was 15 March (3 weeks before I got preg) and I was due my 2nd one on 4th June so I’m 2 months late in getting it but they said that’s fine. Amazing news about your 20 week scan. It’s getting exciting now! I’m due Xmas eve lol. What date in Dec are you due?

Hi @KellyABC @Loll84. This is all looking more promising thanks to you starting a recent thread on this @kellyABC. Also FYI I phoned my GP surgery yesterday to see latest advice and my GP sent me a text reply saying I should go and get my second AZ jab. A lot more clear than when I called him couple months back. I’m still booked in for Sunday to get it. I’ll be getting my whooping cough vaccine early Sept at 24 weeks. My GP said leaving a one week gap minimum between other vaccinations is suffice which is good to know. 👍🏻

@WildDamsel excellent re your 12 week scan 😃. So sorry for your prior loss. Wow us ladies do go through it don’t we?!!!

@Zulu933 - EDD 7 December! After a loss last October (and I see I'm not the only one to have gone through this devastation last year - I'm so sorry to hear that you have had such a trying time, and for so long too) we have just been taking this pregnancy literally day by day. I am very lucky to have DC11 and 9, and this is my partners first, so very precious. Doing it all over again is just so exciting - we have been trying for quite some years now, interesting you spoke of your whooping cough vaccine - that wasn't something we were given ten years ago during pregnancy and I shall bring it up today at my midwife appointment. How did you feel after your first AZ?

@chippedchocolate ah so just couple weeks apart we are 😃 So sorry too for all you’ve been through. Exciting and special times for you and your partner this time round for sure. This is my first baby. My partner has 2 (DC 17 and 14 = my lovely step children). I’m no spring chicken lol. I met my partner late, married age 39 and been trying 7 years so now 46. But so looking forward to being a mum! The whooping cough vaccine is something my midwife told me to do otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it.
After my first AZ jab in March I had flu type systems which wasn’t nice (that eve I went to bed had chills, headache etc.) but it soon wore off. Hoping my 2nd jab isn’t too bad! How about you?

We are not that dissimilar: I'm 43! So no spring chicken either! Oh my word such exciting times - your step children must be delighted! I've just come back from MW - baby felt and sounded beautiful, so reassuring - whooping cough vaccine booked for next week.

Interestingly enough first vaccine I felt awful - flu like symptoms, major headache which I couldn't shift, awful arm ache on the vaccination site, chills, overall aches for probably 2/3 days. Second? Not a bean. Nothing. Absolutely nothing whatsoever. Not even arm ache! Couldn't believe it! Fingers crossed it's the same for you on Sunday 🤞🏻

@chippedchocolate how uncanny, and really we ARE spring chickens 😂 (gotta stay positive!).

Fantastic news re MW app and great that you got whooping cough vaccine sorted.

Ah yes hope I’m lucky second jab around. I’ve got my DH with me holding my hand bless him lol. I’m sure it’ll be good.

Have a lovely weekend especially after the reassured MW visit, it’s so wonderful having the peace of mind that the little beans are doing well. ❤️

@Zulu933 and @chippedchocolate - you should join a pregnancy Facebook group together in the ante-natal section. I still catch up with very close friends from mine and it's been great to have women to share the experience with, especially when the babies are here. You could end up the best of friends x

Thanks @MRex 👍🏻 Funnily enough I just PM’d @chippedchocolate as we’ve so much in common. So lovely to make friends during this special journey for sure. Thanks for that @MRex. x

[quote MRex]@Zulu933 and @chippedchocolate - you should join a pregnancy Facebook group together in the ante-natal section. I still catch up with very close friends from mine and it's been great to have women to share the experience with, especially when the babies are here. You could end up the best of friends x[/quote]

What a lovely idea thank you for suggesting! @Zulu933 I've responded to your message - thank you!

Awww @Zulu933 and @chippedchocolate, how nice. Glad your appointment went well and best of luck for yours @zulu933 too