5 weeks pregnant - should I have my 2nd AstraZenica Jab??

[Hopefull26]

Hey everyone. I'm in two minds about having my second AstraZenica vaccine this week, im aged 29 and this is my second pregnancy. I had gestational diabetes last time so I am classed as a higher risk.

I had my first jab back in March before I got pregnant and now I'm so worried of something happening to the baby as a result of having my second vaccine!

Called the gp and they said it's up to me! So not helpful

Just wondered what you would do if you were me? Or if anyone has been in the same situation and had their vaccine x

Hello

I had my first astrazeneca at 3 weeks pregnant (I didn't know at time) and have my second booked for Thursday when I'll be 13 weeks

Had no issues after my first one, just a mild headache next day

I am back and forth about whether to delay my second vaccine but I think I will have it, I have other risk factors and just want to make the right decision for baby but I know it is sooooo hard and everyone I ask has a different opinion

I am in the same boat. I had my first jab in early March and I am now 6 weeks pregnant. I spoke to my gp today who wasn't much help. They just sent me a link to the RCOG website so I'm still wondering what to do.

I think I'm going to leave the vaccine for the time being as there is no data on the AZ vaccine and I was ill for 2 days after my first one with bad flu symptoms and I don't want to risk anything.

I also had covid the week I got my BFP so I'm thinking with 1 vaccination and actually having had covid I should be fine for the rest of the pregnancy.

Going to speak to my partner and mother about it tonight and see what they say too

Personally if I was you I would have it, and if you do I’ll be very jealous as Worrying about catching covid has been the thing I’ve found most difficult about this pregnancy without a doubt. 32 weeks and I’m 30 so not been offered yet x

I think the worry is it's the AstraZeneca vaccine which hasn't been trialled on pregnant women. As we have already had that first dose we would be expected to continue with that one. If I had originally had Pfizer then I'd probably have the second jab without a question.

I had a miscarriage after having the AstraZeneca vaccine and although it was most likely completely unrelated I feel like I don't want to take any chances especially as the vaccine made me very ill but when I actually got covid I didn't even know, it's only because I lost my taste and smell that I got a test.

I think like the GP has said, we should all choose what's best for us and weigh up our options. I have a week to decide 🙈 but I think I'm leaning to not having it.

@bages1977

I think the worry is it's the AstraZeneca vaccine which hasn't been trialled on pregnant women. As we have already had that first dose we would be expected to continue with that one. If I had originally had Pfizer then I'd probably have the second jab without a question.

I had a miscarriage after having the AstraZeneca vaccine and although it was most likely completely unrelated I feel like I don't want to take any chances especially as the vaccine made me very ill but when I actually got covid I didn't even know, it's only because I lost my taste and smell that I got a test.

I think like the GP has said, we should all choose what's best for us and weigh up our options. I have a week to decide 🙈 but I think I'm leaning to not having it.

So sorry to hear that, that's awful! Do you mind me asking how far along you were when you mc? I hope you don't me asking, it's just that I'm trying to weight everything up!

@ElmtreeMama no of course I don't mind, I was 6 weeks which is where I'm at now with my current pregnancy. Like I said though, the vaccine probably wasn't even the cause but I'd just rather not take that chance purely because I had flu symptoms for a few days after the vaccine with a very high temperature.

I guess everyone's circumstances are different though eg. The risks of covid will be worse for some than others. Such a difficult decision isn't it. I'd like to think they wouldn't offer the second AstraZeneca to pregnant women if they thought there was a risk but I think GP's don't want to call it either way

[quote bages1977]@ElmtreeMama no of course I don't mind, I was 6 weeks which is where I'm at now with my current pregnancy. Like I said though, the vaccine probably wasn't even the cause but I'd just rather not take that chance purely because I had flu symptoms for a few days after the vaccine with a very high temperature.

I guess everyone's circumstances are different though eg. The risks of covid will be worse for some than others. Such a difficult decision isn't it. I'd like to think they wouldn't offer the second AstraZeneca to pregnant women if they thought there was a risk but I think GP's don't want to call it either way [/quote]
Absolutely, an impossible decision

Keeping everything crossed for you this time

@ElmtreeMama thank you ❤️ keeping my fingers crossed 🤞

Hi everyone, I know it's been a few days since this thread was posted on but it's the most relevant one I can find for my situation, so I'm really interested in hearing other people's thoughts if possible.

Due to being classed as vulnerable I had the first dose of vaccine in late February and since it was before the new guidance, I was given AstraZeneca despite being 30. I then became pregnant and was due my second dose mid may but I've been putting it off because I'm worried about high fever and the effect on the pregnancy. With my first dose I had a very high fever for around 15h and I'm really concerned if I get a fever after the second dose it will harm the baby. I should also add that I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks before this pregnancy which has made me extra anxious about everything.

I had pretty much decided not to have the second dose until after the pregnancy but now with the latest variant spreading in the UK (the one first found in India) they're saying one dose is AstraZeneca is not very effective against it and this is worrying me. Do I risk the fever and get the second dose (after the first trimester) or do I just hope I won't get too ill if I catch COVID during pregnancy having had one dose of AstraZeneca? I'm really agonising over this decision. I'm 11 weeks pregnant now and was due the second dose a week ago.

Thanks so much if anyone has any advice, I spoke to a GP but they didn't really help, they just said it's up to me. So stressful

@AlbiMix sorry you're feeling stressed about this - it's such a minefield isn't it! I can't advise you what to do, but I had the AZ vaccine when I was about 21 weeks (also before guidance changed, I'm 29) and am absolutely planning on having my second jab in a couple of weeks time, when I'll be 33 weeks.

I'm not an expert at all, but my understanding from reading around is that the AZ vaccine is similar to a flu jab so while they haven't published data on the impact on pregnancy, there's no plausible reason it should have a negative impact, and the flu jab is given routinely. In terms of worries about blood clots, I think I'm right in saying that the risk is mostly in relation to the first jab so the second is far less likely to be an issue. Also, I wonder whether with the new variant the maths about risk/benefit changes? Making getting the jab more beneficial, as the background risk is a bit higher - that probably depends to an extent on where you live.

In terms of a fever, I would take a couple of paracetamol beforehand, and maybe delay until after the first trimester if that will set your mind at ease.

I hope you can find a decision you feel happy with xx

I had both while pregnant, although only the second was after clot reports etc. There's no evidence so far about safety of mixing vaccines, but lots on risks of covid while pregnant and on immunity increasing with second dose. That's how I made my decision.

I also had no side effects with the second, and neither did anyone I know, despite all being ill after the first. Good luck.

Thanks so much @biscuitcat and @Duckyneedsaclean for your responses. I'm not so worried about the clotting (as I've also read it's normally after the first dose) or even the effect of the vaccine itself, because as you've said it's not new for pregnant women to have this kind of vaccine. My concern is just the high fever, as I don't want to do anything to compromise this pregnancy.

biscuitcat that's also a good point about the risk/benefit changing with the new variant. If I wanted to shield I could do so in terms of work (I can work from home) but I've really struggled with the isolation of lockdown and not seeing friends and family so I don't really want to prolong that if I can avoid it.

It's encouraging you both had no side effects after the second dose. Your comments have made me lean towards having it...but I would probably wait until a bit into the second trimester so will keep thinking it over...

Again thank you and if anyone else sees this and has advice it would be much appreciated!

Oh sorry @biscuitcat just realised you haven't had the second yet, but encouraging you plan to go ahead with it, I hope it goes well.

I’m 5 weeks and my second AZ dose is booked for next Saturday. I’m going to go ahead with it. I was classed as vulnerable due to my weight and although I’ve managed to drop under the BMI bracket slightly, being pregnant then the increase in weight which comes with pregnancy will increase my risk again. I was reassured by the advice from the RCOG about clots happening with the first jab and I’m sure no doctor wants to risk babies coming to harm so if there was any doubt the advice would be to not have it.

I asked my doctor and then 119 as we wanted to try this summer, 119 confirmed that you can have your second jab of AZ if you got pregnant between doses. Call them for advice as I found them very informative.

I ended up with Pfizer last week and will have my second jab if I get pregnant before then.

I dont understand why they can't just offer pfizer as a second dose if you are worried instead of leaving you at risk. They will never trial AZ on pregnant ladies now given the established but rare side effect of this autoimmune bleeding/clotting disorder.

@tikha They don’t know how effective mixing the vaccines is yet so the advice for the time being is that if you’ve had a dose of AZ already then you are better off getting a second dose of it - the RCOG says that no blood clots have happened after the second jab, only the first so it’s safe to have. This advice might change as and when more data comes through about mixing the vaccines but most people who fall pregnant between doses from now on won’t have had AZ because of the rule changes.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/984404/PHE_COVID-19_AZ_vaccine_and_blood_clots_factsheet_7May2021.pdf. in this says blood clots still occur but rarer but the at the same time there is a bias as most of the younger age haven't received their second dose yet. They are giving a different vaccine in other countries as second dose.

@tikha It also says that they’ve come to conclusion ‘that there continues to be no safety concerns following the second dose of vaccine.’ Personally, I’m going to continue to trust people who have a better understanding of vaccine mechanism and statistics than I do. Maybe the advice will change (I don’t think it’s a failing for the advice to change as they get more data) but as of now, to the best of anyone’s knowledge the safest thing to do is just have the second AZ dose especially if like me, you had the first ones in March because you were classed as vulnerable if you were to catch covid.

Thanks @BlankieBops & @thecapitalsunited I may give 119 a call, whenever I've spoken to GPs they've always just said it's up to me to decide, but what I need is for someone with medical knowledge to weigh up the pros and cons of my individual situation. I think overall the problem for many during the pandemic is broad guidance that's applied without much nuance. Vulnerability to COVID isn't the same for everyone currently classed as vulnerable but there's no distinctions within that group really.

@tikha if I go ahead with the second dose I would prefer to have AZ again than a different one because there isn't much data on mixing vaccines and I feel that would make me even more of a guinea pig than having AZ while pregnant.

I really hope for those who have had/are having AZ in pregnancy that someone is collecting the data somewhere. Women continue to be underserved by medical research...

@AlbiMix sadly there was no studies done on pregnant women in a controlled way when it came to using astra zeneca or with mixing of astra zeneca and pfizer. So its all based on observational data. I am not even sure they are recruiting pregnant women to do their antibodies post astra zeneca which is a shame. The astra zeneca platform has been used for a different vaccine previously but again the results on pregnant women werent that many and again based on observational data. The only two vaccines that have had RCTs are pfizer and moderna. Ultimately you have to weight up your risks and benefits. Certainly with the indian strain spreading, unless you can stay indoors, the effectiveness after one dose is only 33% latest paper by BMJ.

I'm glad I've found this thread because I haven't found many people in the same boat as me. I had my first AZ jab at the end of February. 2 weeks later I found out I was pregnant. Im now 16 weeks pregnant and its been almost 15 weeks since my first jab. I have gone back and forth on whether to have the 2nd dose, initially I was going to wait but with the Indian variant now becoming dominant im going to gave it though I'm still anxious. Its taken us 7 years to have this baby so I'm very nervous something could go wrong. My cousin is a doctor and has been working at the vaccination centre, it was after speaking to her that I made the decision to get it. She really reassured me of its safety and she spoke to me as family rather than doctor to patient and she really urged me to get it as having covid in pregnancy is no joke. I will update how things went on wed when I.habe my 2nd dose.

I also had a chemical pregnancy following a fever from the first dose of AZ. Now pregnant again and I doubt very much il have the second until 3rd trimester after that experience even though they may be unrrelated. I couldn't forgive myself for weeks after I'd had the first vaccine whilst pregnant and lost it. I didn't realise I was pregnant. I'm a teacher and have been ttc for 2 years and need fertility treatment so this baby is very precious. Maybe my decision would be different without fertility issues. Going to read the info from RCOG, everyone's decision will be different x

I had my second az shot when I would have just gotten pregnant (unknowingly). My doctor was not at all concerned and now I'm glad I've had it as at least I don't have to fear catching it as much

@tikha you're right, unfortunately it is all a bit of a stab in the dark for pregnant women when it comes to AZ. Wish I'd been given Pfizer but nothing I can do about that now. I did an antibody test recently, it had been around 14 weeks since my first dose and haven't had the second, and it was positive, but it didn't give a quantity of antibodies so have no idea how protected I could be...

For me it really is all about my concern over the fever that I had after the first dose. @Goonbear when I was pregnant the first time was going to have my vaccine at 6w and when I turned up to the vaccination centre they refused to give it to me due to pregnancy. Two weeks later I started bleeding and learned the baby hadn't developed beyond 6w, which is when I was supposed to have the vaccine. If I hadn't been refused I would have wondered, like you, if the MC was caused by the vaccine, so I'm actually relieved they turned me down then. The reason I'm saying this is that I didn't have the vaccine that time and still MC'd, so there's every chance the vaccine wasn't to blame in your case either. Don't know if that helps or not...

Re: having it in the 3rd tri, I have heard it's better to have it in the second, if you do get it while pregnant? I still haven't decided, am waiting for my 12w scan and keeping an eye on the situation...

@Saoirse82 we're in a similar boat, I'm still super torn. On one hand I know the new variant puts me at more risk but on the other I feel that getting the second dose and potentially having the fever may be more likely than getting seriously ill from covid after the first dose...arghhh!! When are you having yours? Hope all goes well, please let us know!