Will you get the COVID vaccine now that they are saying all pregnant women should be offered it

[Peaplant20]

This has just been announced by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. What will you do?

Can't understand why people wouldn't take it (or any vaccine that is recommended for that matter). When "the government" recommends something that doesn't mean it's just the opinion of a minister or someone pulling a political stunt, it means top scientists and researchers who are in themselves apolitical have recommended something. I hate all of this "if the government told you to jump off a cliff" stuff - it shows so little understanding.

If the current guidance is to take it, I'll take it when offered. Yes I'm sure we would all prefer to have years of research to fall back on before taking any vaccine or medication, pregnant or otherwise, but we aren't in that space, and look at the number of people (including babies - look at Brazil) dying of COVID. Other vaccines and medications change a little over time to adapt to new data and we don't bat an eyelid or reconsider each year whether the flu jab is still safe.

Oh and, someone mentioned that COVID deaths outside of 28 days aren't captured. Yes they are, in the ONS death statistics - that's one reason for having two measures.

I would take it but I think by the time they offer it to my age group I will have given birth. I'll have it whilst breastfeeding. I don't want coronavirus and I'm wanting things to get back to normal as soon as possible.

I am uncertain. In some ways being pregnant makes me keener to get it because having bad covid while pregnant or with a newborn would just be awful.

But my mother had very bad side effects for six weeks after her first jab (ambulance ride level) and while I know it's rare, I really don't want that while pregnant either! Added to that, I have a previous postpartum DVT so I want to better understand my personal risk of vaccine-related blood clots.

I am not enormously concerned about the vaccine's effects on pregnancy, but I am also not enormously concerned about my personal likelihood of catching covid at the moment (no one leaving home for work or school, husband does weekly shop). So they sort of cancel each other out.

I hope to discuss it next time I see the doctor. What will probably happen is I will prevaricate for so long I'll have given birth before I decide!

If I can get Pfizer or moderna I am going to jump at it. I feel for me personally one of these two would give me a feeling of security going in to give birth. I’m nearly 36 weeks though so not sure if I will be offered it on time.

I'm trying to get it - was shielding and my consultant said the benefits to me definitely outweigh the risks. However the advice is only get Pfizer or Moderna but I can't find anyone who will give me one of those - they all say they don't know what they're getting and my GP surgery aren't able to book me in for a Pfizer until mid May which would mean getting the second dose in the 3rd trimester. It's so stressful.

Personally no as I wouldn't probably be offered it until June anyway and I'm due in late July, and it takes a few weeks to get immunity anyway. So I'd rather wait and have it ASAP after I deliver. If I wasn't due for several months though I'd be a lot more conflicted.

I'm due in August, won't be having it during pregnancy if offered and won't be having it after either - and no, I am not an anti-vaxxer

Just texted my midwife to ask if they have been given ANY inclination about whether we might get offered it or any kind of priority. Fingers crossed.

No way. I'm not pregnant right now - I am still breastfeeding however. And no I will not use my child or any yet to be conceived children of mine as fucking guinea pigs

@Brabraboo from RCOG website on priority:

As of 16 April, COVID-19 vaccination is offered to the following groups of pregnant women:

Those with high risk medical conditions who have a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19
Health or social care workers – who are at very high risk of catching COVID-19
Individuals considered at high risk of COVID-19 because of health and personal factors that include age, ethnicity, BMI and underlying health conditions (this includes pregnant women in priority group 6)
Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes in pregnancy or pregnant women with a BMI of more than 40
Individuals aged 45 or over
As COVID-19 vaccines are made available to younger people in the general population, they will also be made available to pregnant women in those age groups.

I'm mid-30s, so unlikely to be offered it anytime soon. But when I am, I think I will have it if cases are still high, and I am still teaching. I don't have any underlying conditions, but I definitely don't want to catch covid whilst pregnant. And with a DD already, my priority is to stay healthy and alive for her.

@AdriannaP yes none apply here! Thank you for sharing that though!

I believe there is some quite strong lobbying to have ALL pregnant women prioritised to be offered the choice to take it rather than waiting for their age groups.

I wouldn’t want to take one from someone that needed it more but I also think it’s possible that actually all pregnant women should have been prioritised above their age groups. If we are vulnerable enough to be advised to shield in third trimester, and that vulnerability is because of the pregnancy (lowered immune systems and reduced lung capacity etc) then it’s bizarre we aren’t vulnerable enough to be prioritised.

9% of people in ICU during the U.K. peak were pregnant women or those who had just given birth and that statistic terrifies me. I’ve also known someone who was one of that 9% and while I’m trying to remember that MANY (and the vast vast majority of ) women who have been pregnant this year did so without an ICU stay for covid, knowing someone who ended up there and who’s baby had to be c-sectioned a month early while she was prepared for being intubated... just fills me with utter terror. She survived but the consequences for her and baby will be life long (and potentially life limiting)

If we are going to be prioritised... I hope it’s sooner rather than later so that we have the choice either way.

Otherwise il have given birth by the time I’m eligible anyway as I am early thirties and due in June. (Hopefully safely and without bloody covid)

@Brabraboo

What a sad story. So sorry to hear.
completely agree. I think pregnant women should be in group 6 when you look at the outcomes and the massively increased risks of hospitalisation and premature birth. Also great research in the Us showing antibodies in breastmilk after a vaccine.

I am pregnant and had my vaccine, I am in group 6. Hope you get yours soon! Stay safe

I’m mid 30s and due in June so if they’re not going to prioritise pregnant women I won’t be able to have it before the baby is born. I’m having a c section and the thought of spending 3 days in hospital, having major surgery and then having a persistent cough if I’m unfortunate to catch covid during my stay doesn’t fill me with joy.

I can’t believe they aren’t prioritising pregnant women for this. It’s like we’ve fallen through the cracks. I’ve emailed my doctors surgery to ask for it on the basis that I have to have surgery in 8 weeks time. In fact, I already asked once a few weeks ago when the info first came out about the pregnant women in the US getting it. That was before the JCVI recommended it and I just got a blank stare and a pointless leaflet.

Yes I will now. I said all along I wanted to wait until more data, which they are starting to have from the US and Israel, and past my first trimester. The calculator thing says I will probably be invited around when I am 20 weeks.

I don't go it much as have been trying to sort of shield-lite but when I do go I have found I am more worried about catching covid now than even this time last year. I don't want to be going through my whole pregnancy not going anywhere or seeing anyone. Not that I'd be reckless, I don't want to do a lot but I would welcome that layer of protection for when standing in the queue at the zoo with DD, for example.

I agree with PP though it would have to be Pfizer or Moderna for me for the data-driven reasons. I'm already on aspirin as it is.

@Mabelann can you also ask your midwife maybe? Completely understand in your position and you should be prioritised.

In Germany every pregnant woman can also nominate two close contacts to have the vaccine. My friend (35) had his as his wife is pregnant. Makes sense!!

I think they said pregnant women can choose to have Pfizer/Moderna.

I had my second jab last week just after finding out I'm expecting.

No underlying health issues but a local clinic offers superfluous jabs to local teachers. I was thrilled to have had both!

32 weeks here and will not be getting it, just not worth the risk. For me- as I have no underlying health conditions and have managed a whole year of still going out etc and either getting it/ not suffering or managing to avoid getting it even in the height of the pandemic, I think odds are I wont catch or suffer badly with Covid from now-end of my pregnancy especially with our rates now being so low, and will be fine.

8dpwoah when you say what for my data which kind of data specifically where you looking for? As even if pregnant women got vaccine in trial at start of pandemic last year their babies now would only be a few weeks/months old, I don't think you can base a longterm look at how unborn babies may develop complications after being born/as growing children on this really?

I trust RCOG to have analysed the info from 90,000 ( I think) vaccinations given in America coupled with what they already knew about the mechanism for how all the ingredients and mRNA vaccines in general work- in that there's no known problem with any of the components or that mechanism in pregnancy and infants.
I was just being cautious initially as they themselves were saying there wasn't enough data on the effect of the vaccine in pregnancy. That's why I didn't have it when offered through work.

I'm not a blind follower by any means but I do trust these institutions filled with experts and professionals to do their best not to give advice that would end up in lawsuits, leaving aside the professional integrity and ethics arguments. So if they are saying the data is good enough quality for them to change their stance on the vaccine in pregnancy, that's good enough for me.

Sorry, to be a bit clearer about what was worrying me, it was the physical, short term reaction to the vaccine and how a pregnant woman's biology would cope with to that I was concerned about. Lots of friends and family have been knocked sideways by the jab and to me with the change in immunity and other factors when pregnant my concerns were about adverse reactions at point of taking that jab and the immediate period afterwards, possible risk of miscarriage, stillbirth rather than any possible longer term issues.
I totally get that different people will have different reservations to me but that was what put me off initially, personally.

@AdriannaP that’s the guidance but actually getting a Pfizer or Moderna jab is a challenge in itself because the booking system doesn’t know what jabs the centres will have on any given day. My GP surgery have been useless and said they can’t guarantee Pfizer until mid May, at which point I’ll be well into my 2nd trimester and won’t get the 2nd dose before the 3rd trimester. So frustrating that the guidance is set but nobody is actually able to follow it.

@AdriannaP and @MF1981 it is quite a pickle.

I've been offered it, and I would like to have it, but had a call with my GP yesterday and they're not sure how to make sure I get the Moderna/Pfizer. Local hospital has said they are only giving Pfizer to under 30's and 2nd doses (there's no Moderna nearby) and GP doesn't know what vaccine they're having and when at the local vaccination centre.

The GP did advise as the information changed so recently and the vaccination centres won't have known until Friday there will be a lag in updating the booking system to accomodate the guidance. I'm hopeful they'll sort themselves out in the next week weeks. 🤞