Where can I find the most up to date Covid vaccination info?

[3ormoredogs]

Sorry I know this has been done to death.

I’m currently 22 weeks and have the vaccine booked but I’m really stressed and tearful about it and I’m not sure I’ll be able to go through with it.
I’m worried about it causing a miscarriage or stillbirth even though I know this is irrational. I’ve also read about people missing periods etc after the vaccine and I’m worried it effecting hormones this could cause problems with the development of the pregnancy. I told you it was irrational- I’m actually quite medically minded

I’ve tried the govt website but didn’t find it helpful at all. My midwife just said it’s my choice.

I’m unable to shield due to the nature of my job.

Does anyone know where I can read some more about it?
Is there any data about how many women have been vaccinated and if there were any problems? All I can see is that 100000 women were vaccinated in America but this seems such a small number and it does not say if they were all fine?!
To those who have had it, how long ago did you have it and did you have side effects?

Thanks!!

I’m 27 weeks and had my first jab at 25+4
I had a sore arm for one night and that was literally it.
I found the Stella creasy webinar really reassuring in terms of the safety and risks. It really helped allow me make my own decision.
There is also this about the vaccinations in the US:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2104983

When you go to get vaccinated, you will have to speak to a dr or nurse beforehand as you are pregnant. They will highlight the risks and benefits of vaccination in pregnancy and essentially make you sign a disclaimer... but it’s a good opportunity to ask questions etc. And they told me there is no pressure - if I was unsure, I could leave or take fresh air and come back.

I am currently 25+2 and had my first Pfizer vaccine at 23 weeks. I had a sore arm but that was it.

Baby was as active as ever and I haven’t noticed any issues whatsoever.

I’ll be due my second vaccine at 35 weeks.

I had my first dose 2 weeks ago at 14+5 weeks, I didn't have to speak to a nurse or doctor or sign a disclaimer so this might not be the same everywhere. I told the nurse I was pregnant & happy to be vaccinated, she checked with the pharmacist on site & was given the go ahead. I did lots of research beforehand & felt confident I was making the right decision.

I wasn’t asked to sign a disclaimer or anything. I was asked if I was pregnant, I said yes. They asked if I was still happy to have it, I said yes.

They asked if I was on any blood thinners, I told them I take 150mg aspirin a day, they said that was fine. Then that was that.

All in all it took a max of 5 minutes, more like 3! Then because it was Pfizer I was sent to an area to sit for 15 minutes to wait and see if I had any reactions to the jab, and off I went!

I'm just going to mark my place here if that's ok!

I'm also in two minds about whether or not to have it (almost 20 weeks now) so interested to read the replies

That’s so interesting reading that I’m the only one that needed to a consultation/had to sign my life away first 🤣
I assumed that was standard as I was pregnant - the form basically said I had to understand that although there was plenty of data coming from the US, it was not as part of a specific study regarding vaccination in pregnancy so although there are no known issues or risks, there is insufficient data to state that.

Thanks all of you.

Just a little disclaimer, in the past year I’ve had two close friends loose pregnancies, one a stillbirth and one at 23 weeks and it’s always on my mind hence I’m probably not thinking this through normally.

Just looking at the info from the link above.
If I’m reading this right it means that X number of women had spontaneous abortions however this could also have happened with or without the vaccine and isn’t directly linked?

I wish they would just say yes it’s safe or no it’s not- I don’t want to make medical decisions with no knowledge

Published Studies and V-safe Pregnancy Registry Participants.
Among 827 participants who had a completed pregnancy, the pregnancy resulted in a live birth in 712 (86.1%), in a spontaneous abortion in 104 (12.6%), in stillbirth in 1 (0.1%), and in other outcomes (induced abortion and ectopic pregnancy) in 10 (1.2%). A total of 96 of 104 spontaneous abortions (92.3%) occurred before 13 weeks of gestation (Table 4), and 700 of 712 pregnancies that resulted in a live birth (98.3%) were among persons who received their first eligible vaccine dose in the third trimester.

I didn’t even get asked if I was pregnant, and it was quite clear that I was! I had mine about 3 weeks before my 20 week scan, and everything was absolutely fine at the scan, so I’m reassured by that.

I'm currently 9 weeks pregnant and had first meeting with my midwife yesterday and she said they are recommending all pregnant woman to get the vaccine and that I would be getting it offered soon so she suggests I take it.

Like other woman I have been reading on the nhs and gov website and the information is mixed and doesn't help much at all.

I think with not knowing the risks with pregnancy and unborn babies especially in the U.K. it's difficult to make a decision on the information given.

I'm unsure if it's a good idea to get at all when pregnant and wait until after I've had the baby, or if it's even safe in first trimester?!

I'm new to mums net but great reading everyone's stories!

I wish they would just say yes it’s safe or no it’s not- I don’t want to make medical decisions with no knowledge sad

I do too... but realistically, they can’t. They don’t have the data to say that comprehensively. I’m now 12w and have had 3 midwives tell me not to have it; and 2 tell me to have it, plus my GP. It’s a really personal call.

I had a reaction to my AZ before I was pregnant so I’m having the second dose of Pfizer. I’m scared about the heightened side effects of mixing vaccines. I’m scared about whether it’s a good idea overall... but you have to make the call that feels right to you. Reading your extract above, I’m tempted to wait for the third trimester now!

Best of luck in your decision

You aren't being irrational to worry about miscarriage from the vaccine. I've read enough online about women who have had the vac pregnant and suffered from blood clots, heart attack, waters breaking and the worst case scenario, miscarriage. The media and gov seem to ignore this and not report any figures but the information is out there.. Just not withing their stats.

Yes many people have had the vaccine pregnant and have been fine and will likely be fine. But there isn't enough research to know for sure if the vac won't have effects right away or in the future.. There just hasn't been enough research as the vaccine is still in trial until 2023.

I'll be waiting until little one is born. Not something I want to risk but respect others decisions if they want to have it. I have a friend who has had it a week ago and is fine, each to their own x

I'm currently 39 weeks pregnant and have been getting my invitations to have the vaccine since I was quite early on; - due to the nature of my job; but now because I fall in the above 30 category

I declined due to there not being enough research & due to my job being home based whilst covid was ongoing whilst I was pregnant

My midwife said it's my decision but as I'm at the end now I decided to wait and re-evaluate once baby is here.

I think ultimately it's your choice; but again, I'm not comfortable making medical decisions without medical advice as someone mentioned above

@TakeYourFinalPosition did those 3 midwives give you a reason why not to have it or just lack or research?

I wish I could isolate from home and I would feel a lot happier however I work in a client facing role with lots of other staff, my DS is in primary school and my DH is a teacher and so is in contact with a lot of people. It seems I’m at very high risk of Covid which pre pregnancy maybe wouldn’t have been the end of the world but it feels more risky now.

But as risky as getting a vaccine that the government won’t label is safe?

@3ormoredogs in terms of those numbers, I seem to remember from reading the paper they said that these figures were in line with average statistics.

It’s such a personal call. Contracting Covid in 3rd trimester makes you more likely to need hospitalisation (but not necessarily because you’re worse effected, but because they will monitor you more closely.) you’re more likely to have a premature labour... but figures only increased from 10 to 13% (from memory)... but chances of
Medical intervention at birth went up to something mad like 85%. But I’m guessing that is because they would encourage any mum that is unwell to have a c section not to endure labour.

Once I was “satisfied” with the data, my main deciding factors were:

1. I can work from home and isolate... but my husband is a secondary school teacher and daughter is at nursery. They could still bring it home to me.
2. Numbers are rising again and I worry that this isn’t going away. If I didn’t have it, isolated all summer, had a baby in September... I would then be racing for protection before another winter wave. And I worry we may go back into lockdown - which I would struggle with far more if I’ve not been able to socialise all year.

1. Most importantly for me, 2 of my friends have caught Covid in their 3rd trimester. Both are in their 20s/very early 30s, slim, healthy etc. One was on oxygen, given a c section and kept on intensive care for a week. Baby in neo natal and dad couldn’t meet his child for 8 days.

The second hasn’t laboured yet, but has to take blood thinners until birth as a precaution. It just made me realise that the risk is real.

You sound similar to me circumstances wise @SillyBry.

That’s awful to hear about your friends. I know a lot of people who have had it but nobody more than a mild cold luckily!

I really don’t fancy a spell in intensive care. I’ve booked the vaccine (and did the first day I could-I’m 29 so it’s only this week become an option) but I’ve been really tearful and stressed about it all day. I’m so worried about it causing problems to the baby I can’t think straight. Pregnancy hormones maybe

@3ormoredogs I feel the exact same about it, I'm 30 and got my appointment in and I'm worrying so much about it, trying to find as much information as I can.

All the data they have in based from America which is a little concerning but it's not easy to make a medical decision for yourself let alone your baby also.

This is my first and worry is all over the place as you could imagine..

I’m 25 weeks and I’ve decided not to have it and my midwife didn’t really bat an eyelid

It’s a very personal choice, but for me, I work from home, my husband does, we can shield mostly all of the summer (but will still do our own shopping if rates remain low) and hopefully avoid catching it.

My husband is having his first dose on Sunday, and we’ve asked the few friends we do socialise with outdoors to do lat flow tests recently.

So for me the risks of picking up covid are minimal compared to the risk of taking a vaccine that has very little data regarding use in pregnancy and a vaccine that isn’t declared “safe”.
There really is no right or wrong I think it’s risk assessing your own circumstances and likelihood of getting covid and being seriously ill in third trimester

I’ll be booking it as soon as the little one is here though, I’m not an anti vax by any means

@3ormoredogs I think it’s really ok to be emotional about it. It stressed me out hugely. I just wished someone could have given me a clear cut answer.
I spoke to 2 medical friends. One has 5 kids, is an A&E dr and has a highly vulnerable husband. She lied about breastfeeding to get her jab to protect her husband. But she said if she were me, she would probably take the risk snd not get it because rates were looking low. But that was before the delta variant started cropping up.
The other friend said that if I didn’t have it, I needed to come up with a plan to keep myself safe and avoid the risks. But she was generally satisfied with the data snd would have gone ahead with it in my situation.
It really is such a personal thing and no one can tell you if you’re right or wrong.
I took my whooping cough vaccine without even questioning it, but it so goes against the grain to take something that we know so little about when there is a previous baby at stake.
Once I made my decision - and discussed it with husband/family, I actually felt more at peace with it than when I was unsure. Now I’ve had my first jab, I try not to worry about the consequences/what could be as my decision is done.
Whichever you decide - be kind to yourself... it’s ok to be stressed about it... and remember we are all trying to make the best decision for our baby 😊 good luck xx

I’m 33 weeks and was advised by my midwives that it was my choice but they strongly hinted they wouldn’t have it. I saw the consultant yesterday due to high bmi and assumed she would tell me otherwise but she didn’t. She said it was my choice but as I was fairly close to the end it may be best to wait! It’s so hard as people are being advised different things!

@3ormoredogs The midwives who said not to have it said that there isn't enough data on it, and I couldn't possibly be expected to make a call on whether it's safe from the very limited data that is released, so their advice was to wait.

(They weren't together - it was at my booking in appts & then an EPU appt).

The ones who said to take it said that catching Covid in the third trimester isn't good; and that everyone needs to have their jab to do their part, and that pregnant women have been being vaccinated here and in the US for a while now.

I am booked in for Saturday but your quote has been playing on my mind since I read it yesterday... if 700 of the 712 live births were vaccinated in the third trimester, that means few were vaccinated before that... Now I'm really unsure again!

This is so hard. I'm 30 but had my first in Feb due to my job. Most of my friends are vaccinated too. But none of them are pregnant... and I'm not sure if I'd forgive myself if something went wrong from here. It feels like such a weight to carry, either way...

I’ve been going back and forth about this as well so interested in what people say. My midwife won’t give me an answer and just says it’s my choice so am waiting for a call back from my GP. My issue is, I had the AZ vaccine I think on the day I conceived 🤷‍♀️, and have the second dose in a couple of weeks when I’ll be around 14 weeks. My situation is complicated by the fact that AZ isn’t recommended for pregnant women, just the other two. I wonder if I could mix doses…just wish a medical professional would give me a straight yes or no answer. The fact that midwives aren’t saying definitely take it and are saying it’s up to me worries me.

There’s been another 3 cases at my workplace over the past 24hours. It’s not a job we can self isolate during either.

It’s such a hard call, unknown danger vs known danger!

I have my first dose booked in for next week when ill be 15ish weeks.
I initially spoke to my midwife at my booking appointment several weeks ago and she literally said 'the data suggests pregnant woment get their jab when their age group is called'.
I tried to get some more advice from her but she literally changed the subject and wouldnt entertain a conversation about it at all.
My GP was the same.
How can they just expect us to make decisions with zero support?
I appreciate it hasnt been tested on pregnant woman due to the ethical issues surrounding it, like pretty much every single medication available, but this is a major thing. Covid is a real deal breaker.

I visited the vaccine centre a few days ago just to ask if they were offering the correct vaccine for me because I didnt want to turn up and them only have AZ available.
They only have the Moderna vaccine in stock. Something else I wasnt expecting as I havent heard of a single person having this brand of vaccine yet. The staff were much more reassuring than the midwife or GP to be honest and a doctor (I assume) came and spoke to me.
Reiterated the vaccine was safe as it isnt a live vaccine and doesnt replicate in the same way as the AZ or other vaccines. Its the same structure as the flu and whooping cough vaccines and they are routinely given to pregnant women without them batting an eyelid.
It was reassuring but I am still terrified.

This is my first pregnancy. Conception wasnt easy. Im of an age where I may not have time on my side to try for a second child so this, to me, could be my only child, and Im terrified of the potential risks later on for them, not me.
Of course I dont want covid. Im higher risk and in an industry where I cant socially distance.
I am not due until the winter where covid could be rife again so need protecting as Ill be in hospital.
Im so torn.
I never thought this decision would be so hard to make.

I've had my first Pfizer at 32 weeks and hoping to squeeze in a second dose at 37 weeks.

I'm working from home, but my husband is not and DD1 goes to nursery. What swung it for me was the recent uk study on the negative effects of having covid at the time of delivery. As previously mentioned, risk of premature labour and needing assisted delivery were higher but what scared me most was that the risk of stillbirth is doubled. It's usually something like 4 in 1000 but goes up to around 8 in 1000.

I wasn't comfortable with that known risk- so opted for the unknown risk of the vaccine given all info that has been released so far has been reassuring.

Link - www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/rcog-responds-to-new-covid-19-and-pregnancy-study/

Hey there. Just to add what I did. I lost my DS a few years ago and then had to have IVF so, when I was first offered the vaccine via my job in January, I decided not to take the risk as there was just not much data at all. More recently, my age group was contacted about vaccination and I reviewed the data again. There is a lot more "real life" data supporting the safety of Pfizer and Moderna coming from the US. What decided me were studies which suggested that mothers catching coronavirus in the third trimester were more likely to give birth prematurity and have complications. I spoke to my consultant who said that, officially,she couldn't advise me but, off the record, she would agree with my logic. I had the Moderna vaccine at 33 weeks and just had a bit of a sore arm. I did have to have a chat with a nurse and sign some forms but I didn't have to wait in a queue, they pulled me out so I could sit down.

I think it's a difficult decision and there's no right answer here. I chose to have the vaccine, on balance,but I can understand other women deciding not to. It's not straight forward.