Are you getting the vaccine?

[Rubyrecka]

I've had a text to say I have a vaccine appointment booked, I will need to call them and make sure I'm sent to a place where they stock Pfizer or Moderna. I'm wondering what people's thought are on this that are currently pregnant?

I'm really unsure. I'm currently 18 weeks and I've read as much as I can (given the little amount of research that has taken place) on vaccines and pregnancy but they all say the same thing.

My worries are I suppose that long term they just don't know if there are any negatives affects on the babies.

However I had a email from my boss about going back into work in the coming weeks so it looks like things are slowly getting back to normal - the thought of being around loads of people gives me anxiety 😟

Anyone else feeling abit confused?

I'd be happy to have Pfizer or Moderna.

Getting it booked has been very difficult. The vaccine centre and GP both said they are unable to book for pregnant women. I've currently got an appointment at a centre tomorrow which will be lot luck, which is what the GP advised as they'd be more likely to have Pfizer.

I'm due so close to when I would be offered it anyway (due late July, and I'm 31 so probably wouldn't be offered it until June) that I'll wait until afterwards. If I was earlier on I'd probably go for it - scientifically there is no way it can impact the baby from what I understand, and there's been a huge number of women in the US who have had it with no negative effects.

I'm really torn - I'm 32 weeks and 35y/o so don't know if I'd be offered it before giving birth anyway but I think as much as I want to be protected, I would never forgive myself if trials turned up so adverse data in 6 months and it was then too late to do anything about it.
But, having said that, I really really don't want to catch Covid either when pregnant or post-partum. It's a bit of an impossible choice really, but I think when it comes down to it I would have to postpone until after the baby.

It’s a really hard decision, there’s no right or wrong you just have to do what you feel most comfortable with I think!

Initially I didn’t want to get the vaccine whilst pregnant because of the unknown long term effects, but I’ve now changed my mind because my work is planning on returning to the office in summer and the government seems committed to lifting measures (how many times can BoJo say “irreversible”) so I feel like the risk and exposure will be higher than I’m comfortable with and I’d feel better getting the vaccine. I’m also due in winter when it tends to become more widespread.

I had Covid last year when it initially kicked off (I caught it at work) and it affected me really badly even though I am young and have no health conditions. Earlier this year my dad caught it and was hospitalised for several months. It’s a really horrible disease and my personal experience of it is that I’m more comfortable getting the vaccine than not now that I think I’ll be more exposed. One thing that has really concerned me is what would happen if me or DH were covid positive when I went into labour and if he wouldn’t be able to be there for delivery.

But if my situation were different and I felt like I could shield for the duration of the pregnancy then I probably wouldn’t get it.

If it helps, I asked my my midwife for advice on this at my last appt and she told me that the main organs etc are developed and the baby is mostly growing after 16 weeks so suggested waiting until after this point might be best.

I’m really struggling to decide too, so it’s helpful to read all your comments.

Just thought I’d add a comment about waiting between whooping cough or flu vaccine and covid vaccine. On the pregnancy then screwed zoom a week or so back where they had experts discuss the covid vaccine, they said that the reason for having a gap inbetween those different vaccines was just incase you had any reactions or side effects then they would know which vaccine it was from. Incase anyone was wondering!

I’m not, but then I’m currently suffering with CVST! (Not vaccine related)

So I've now spoken to 2 nurses (midwife and friend that works in icu neonatal unit) and neonatal doctor through said friend and a occupational health nurse!

All are pretty for me having the vaccine as the known benefits currently outweigh the risks. I've also spoken to my husband as I feel that a joint discussion is beneficial (rather than people saying it's your body you decide! 👍🏼). neo natal nurse friend also said she has seen more mums with covid and babies being prematurely delivered which is due to covid. Which was a bit of a reality check as sometimes I read stats or risks and think that's not likely to happen to me!

The oc health nurse made a fairly good point and one I wasn't aware of is that they are expecting a uptick in Autumn due to the various mutations floating about and which is also in line with behaviour of flu season. If this happens then this would be where I enter the third trimester. She also said that one reason that the severity of covid happens in preggo ladies is that they can't be ventilated for some reason which i have now forgotten! I've never heard of this but then I'm not in a setting where I would have access to this kind of info.

I will make a decision on what the current known facts are about covid vs vaccine vs pregnancy and that's all we can do really.

Really good point about the autumn OP, especially if the approach to lockdown is a bit more herd immunity because so many other people will of had the vaccine.

I will if I’m offered it in time. I think the risks of catching Covid in third trimester are worrying.

Stella Creasy MP and Pregnant then Screwed organised a webinar with medical experts to discuss it and it was really informative. You can watch it here:

www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=2006145259541323&ref=watch_permalink

It helped me make a decision

@Cap89 that's a really useful link thank you!

@Patapouf have a look at the link Cap posted it addresses this question in the session

Had both Pfizer jabs the start of January in early pregnancy. I'm a healthcare worker and was working during a major outbreak in my hospital. No concerns about having had the vaccine.

I decided to have the jab done and I have to say I feel much more reassured and confident now I have had it.

Had the Pfizer and no reactions apart from a sore arm.

Thanks!