[quote MissingCoffeeandWine]@Skymum82
This is where I find the media coverage infuriating. No evidence or limited evidence is not the same as meaning “it doesn’t do something” just means “we haven’t proven it does yet”. Science is conservative. Evidence for stopping spread can only be gathered as large groups of people have been vaccinated and spend time interacting. We couldn’t do that until a certain proportions had been vaccinated. That’s recent! The data emerging is very positive that the vaccine does reduce spread - significantly.
The estimates for AZ is “about a two-thirds” reduction after one dose - link: www.google.ie/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1400974/astrazeneca-vaccine-does-covid-vaccine-prevent-spread-coronavirus-transmission-evg/amp
We know that MRNA vaccines lower the viral load effectively. Those with lower viral loads pass the virus to less people. That’s the known. The evidence of the exact reduction of spread is being calculated in Israel at the moment - www.google.ie/amp/s/www.sciencenews.org/article/coronavirus-covid-19-pfizer-vaccine-may-reduce-transmission/amp
But some of this is academic. As the difficultly with covid is not that we could all get it (we all get colds etc). but that some of those who got it, were very ill very quickly. The vaccine protects those people and prevents deaths.
As I posted above: women of pregnancy age are highly unlikely to be vulnerable to death, the ECV category has always been in place as it was unknown what risk covid would have on mum and baby (especially given the physical demands of pregnancy at late stage). Initial evidence was not great (I was terrified in work) BUT there is emerging evidence that actually it’s less harmful than we thought especially for baby. There is also increasing evidence that women are delaying access to treatment due to fears around covid, which is harmful for mom and baby. And that lockdowns are harmful for new moms and babies. Hence I said - it’s a balance.
The UK has one of the most conservative approaches to vaccinating pregnant women. Again, they cannot ethically conduct clinical trials, but cohort data is beginning to suggest that there is little to no risk to the pregnancy and possible benefits - www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/should-you-get-covid19-vaccine-while-pregnant-heres-what-experts-say?cmpid=int_org=ngp::int_mc=website::int_src=ngp::int_cmp=amp::int_add=amp_readtherest
So pregnant women may be vaccinated by October. But the evidence takes a long time to collect. And for now. It rightly won’t be recommended until we know more.
I never said that shielding should be enforced via early maternity leave - I said I would like to see the government support women (if they are still found to be at a higher risk in late pregnancy and continue to be unable to or want to access vaccines) to shield at home. Extend furlough, wfh guidance, support companies. However it is done, it should be done. I believe until at least the end of June this is in the guidance.
It is the uncertainty that is difficult: but this is all so new, it is hard to predict. Again all of the guidance about opening up has ‘caveats’. If the vaccine evidence doesn’t emerge, decisions will be looked at again.
So far, it’s looking hopeful - less and less like last October could happen again - but no one is making any promises.
@fro98 is right: these are really hard times to be pregnant. I don’t think there is an easy solution to this. It’s a shite situation. And I agree that families - and friends - and we all - should respect each other’s choices to protect our own families.
It’s completely understandable to be scared about restrictions lifting. But being allowed to do something doesn’t meant you have to do it. I hope families will listen. I think right now people are just over excited, and making lots of plans, and I suspect there will be many that act more cautiously when asked to, then they are suggesting now.
I’m not responding to try to fight with anyone. It bothers me that there is so much misinformation out there. I’ve found the media coverage terrifying, but the actual data much more hopeful. Hence the long posts and links. Sorry all x[/quote]
So the last 2 years pregnant women in the third trimester have been "looked after" and now it's ok to say sod it. There had been quite a few women really poorly in there last trimester with covid, actually a story today about turning of life support on one women who court it in her last trimester.
This was very much a surprise baby.
I don't think I'm more scared due to the media, I'm worried due to having asthma, being in my third trimester when people won't just be mixing but they will be making up for mixing.
I also have no faith in the govement.
The lockdown would of decreased covid deaths and numbers not the vaccine esp as we would of only seen the effects it had in the other 70s at the minute, you know the group that was shielding and staying in...