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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Covid Vaccine

105 replies

chelley123 · 17/06/2021 13:18

Hi, has anyone had the COVID vaccine? I'm due to get mine next weekend but still confused if I should do it. Please share your experiences or thoughts!!

OP posts:
MissChanandlerBong22 · 04/08/2021 11:42

I’m going to get it. I was unsure but I’ve made up my mind and my reasons are:

  • none of the ingredients are known to be harmful in pregnancy;
  • non-live vaccines have long been considered safe in pregnancy. If you look at the NHS travel page, it contains a blanket statement that ‘non-live vaccines are safe in pregnancy’. No ifs, no buts;
  • there’s lots of reassuring real world data; and
  • we know for certain that catching Covid in pregnancy carries some risk, including risks that could impact on the long term development of the baby.
Confused521 · 04/08/2021 12:39

@Scirocco

Why are you putting scientists in quotation marks? I'm confused by that.
Because we're getting much of the info via politicians and media.
Confused521 · 04/08/2021 12:49

@physicskate

So how long term do you need? Do you know the flu vaccine changes every year? Do you also require 'long term' studies before you get your (yearly) flu vaccine?

For most people, covid is relatively short lived. So it doesn't make as much sense to need longer term studies than you would need on, say, the hpv vaccine (as it takes years for cancer to reveal itself).

Your argument is really counter-intuitive.

Because even 10 years down the line, you could argue this 'no long term studies' malarky. But actually, what long term studies make sense for a vaccine with known and understood mechanisms, lasts only a few days before your body breaks it down, and is shown to be effective in the short term against a virus with known morbidities and mortalities that you are at increased risk for.

Vaccines work when enough people get them to stop their spread. So really, the 'personal choice' argument continues to put not only you, but others at risk as well. It's an argument I have trouble justifying, but can't fully reject either.

Yes, I'm aware 'flu vaccine changes each year to try and incorporate the current strains of 'flu. I don't take that one either.

Yes, for most, COVID is short-lived and not fatal (or serious at all). Naturally-acquired infections produce antibodies. 100% of the population does not need to be vaccinated 2 or 3 times a year, every year - I'm sure enough of you will have it in the end for effective herd immunity.

Scirocco · 04/08/2021 12:57

Politicians and the media aren't scientists. The actual research and clinical recommendations are done by professionals with years of experience in their fields.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 12:59

@Scirocco

Politicians and the media aren't scientists. The actual research and clinical recommendations are done by professionals with years of experience in their fields.
Yes, thank you for that clarification Wink

I think we probably just need to agree to disgree on this one Grin.

Scirocco · 04/08/2021 13:17

Probably. But if you are interested in looking at the actual research, a lot of published papers can be found online at reputable sites such as PubMed, and guidance documents can be found on the websites of relevant professional bodies such as NICE and the Royal Colleges.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 13:28

@Scirocco

Probably. But if you are interested in looking at the actual research, a lot of published papers can be found online at reputable sites such as PubMed, and guidance documents can be found on the websites of relevant professional bodies such as NICE and the Royal Colleges.
Thanks. Trust me, I have all the papers.
BIWI · 04/08/2021 13:31

Gosh, I must have missed the memo that it's anti-vax day today Hmm

physicskate · 04/08/2021 13:35

I think I missed the memo to not trust professionals and experts and to not need any rational arguments when engaging in discussions.

BIWI · 04/08/2021 13:37

Well quite, @physicskate

Somehow the reasoning doesn't extend to considering how devastating the effects of contracting Covid-19 might be.

Scirocco · 04/08/2021 13:44

@BIWI it's so disappointing that anti-vax views are now so widespread. We (healthcare and science professionals) have spent years training and developing our skills in our various fields, and many of us have been at the frontline during this pandemic. If people actually came with questions or reasons why they're concerned, and wanted to discuss the different sources of information, I and many others like me would be happy to have rational discussions and talk through the data. But people don't. What we get instead ranges from actual physical and verbal abuse, through conspiracy theories, to people simply being unwilling to engage with us at all.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 13:52

[quote Scirocco]@BIWI it's so disappointing that anti-vax views are now so widespread. We (healthcare and science professionals) have spent years training and developing our skills in our various fields, and many of us have been at the frontline during this pandemic. If people actually came with questions or reasons why they're concerned, and wanted to discuss the different sources of information, I and many others like me would be happy to have rational discussions and talk through the data. But people don't. What we get instead ranges from actual physical and verbal abuse, through conspiracy theories, to people simply being unwilling to engage with us at all.[/quote]
For goodness sake, I am not an anti-vaxxer (have had all bar 'flu and children are all jabbed to the eyeballs, as per our wonderful childhood immunisation schedule). I have simply made the personal decision to not have this one at the moment. I haven't engaged with health professionals about this directly because I am comfortable with my decision and neither my doctor nor my midwife has raised it. Personal choice exists for a reason. I will keep evaluating the risk vs benefit for myself as I have been doing since it has been on offer.

BIWI · 04/08/2021 13:53

Well you clearly don't have much of an understanding of risk!

BIWI · 04/08/2021 13:55

I get you @Scirocco. It's frustrating enough as a lay person, never mind how you and your colleagues must feel, with all the wilful (or not) ignorance on display about the vaccines. And no thanks for the amazing job that scientists have done to get them developed so quickly, and to be so effective.

Scirocco · 04/08/2021 13:55

I didn't say you were an anti-vaxxer. I was replying to someone else who mentioned anti-vax. At no point in that message did I mention you at all.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 13:57

@BIWI

Well you clearly don't have much of an understanding of risk!
As a person I have never met, do enlighten me as to what you think my personal risk is... without parotting the usual rhetoric, if at all possible Smile
Confused521 · 04/08/2021 14:02

@BIWI

I get you *@Scirocco*. It's frustrating enough as a lay person, never mind how you and your colleagues must feel, with all the wilful (or not) ignorance on display about the vaccines. And no thanks for the amazing job that scientists have done to get them developed so quickly, and to be so effective.
Look, you and the scientists have done your job. Pat yourselves on the back and enjoy the doorstep applause when there is public appetite for it. It's not your job to convince individual people to buy into it - others are being paid to do that. Sit back and enjoy your relative success.
MissChanandlerBong22 · 04/08/2021 14:06

We don’t have long term data on the vaccine but we also don’t have long term data on the effects on the baby and/or mother of catching Covid whilst pregnant.

But we do know infections during pregnancy aren’t a good thing. For example, there’s been lots of research linking prolonged fevers in pregnancy to adverse pregnancy outcomes. And some studies have linked fevers in pregnancy - particularly the second trimester - to neurodiversity in children.

Hyppogriff · 04/08/2021 14:09

Yes if you’re pregnant the advice is please do get it !!

Scirocco · 04/08/2021 14:20

@Confused521 Wow, that's kind of rude and uncalled for. Also, it's literally our jobs to try to save lives. That includes trying to challenge harmful misinformation, engaging with people who have questions, helping to develop public health policies... We don't go into these jobs for "doorstep applause". We'd far rather have fewer people in our ICUs and fewer bodies in our mortuaries.

If you don't want the vaccine, don't get it, but please don't contribute to the spreading of misinformation. If you have actual evidence to back up your views, share it and discuss it.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 14:30

[quote Scirocco]@Confused521 Wow, that's kind of rude and uncalled for. Also, it's literally our jobs to try to save lives. That includes trying to challenge harmful misinformation, engaging with people who have questions, helping to develop public health policies... We don't go into these jobs for "doorstep applause". We'd far rather have fewer people in our ICUs and fewer bodies in our mortuaries.

If you don't want the vaccine, don't get it, but please don't contribute to the spreading of misinformation. If you have actual evidence to back up your views, share it and discuss it.[/quote]
Well, I suggest you continue to save lives, on the table. I am not "spreading misinformation". I am expressing my opinion in relation to myself. That's it and it is my right to do that. I accept other people will have it and I respect their choice.

lboogy · 04/08/2021 14:37

I hate people who push the vaccine down other peoples throat. Agree with @Confused521 that we should have personal choice.

There is nothing wrong with questioning the vaccine without being labelled

I only got my vaccine last week but I am still very sceptical about having it when the sample of pregnant women it was tested on is till around 300k

The literature says the vaccine doesn't hang around in the body to cause long term effects but I'm still skeptical

I had the vaccine only because of the new variant , I have a toddler who goes to nursery and I wasn't convinced I could shield for the last 3 months of my pregnancy. In the end I had the vaccine because I wouldn't want to die and leave my daughter or even give birth and be in hospital for months on end

I took a calculated risk but I respect people who have chosen not to have the vaccine too

BIWI · 04/08/2021 14:48

It's very simple. You are much more at risk of Covid than you are from the vaccine.

The End.

BIWI · 04/08/2021 14:48

from Covid. Not of Covid.

Confused521 · 04/08/2021 14:55

I agree lboogy, I totally agree.

BWIW - thanks. When you put it that way, how could I refuse. Just know that when someone has made this decision, they have made it. If they are truly "hesitant" and seeking advice, feel free to bombard them with the script (sensitively of course, there is literature on how to approach these kinds of people ;)) and you'll likely convince them. But for the likes of me, who have made the decision you disagree with, please don't ram your view down our throats. It won't achieve anything so you'll just end up feeling frustrated.