Do you have a question about getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy? £200 voucher to be won

[LibbyMumsnet]

We are no longer taking questions on this thread, please read answers below.

Created for Our Healthier South East London

Our Healthier South East London have organised for Dr Juliet Grenham and Dr Anita Banerjee to answer your questions.

• Everyone who shares a question on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw

• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for any store of their choice (from a list)

• The experts will be back to answer some of your questions throughout the next three weeks

About the experts:
Juliet qualified in 2016 from Barts and The Royal London Medical School in London. She has been working in South London since qualifying. The majority of her experience is in Emergency Medicine and General Practice and, as the mother of two boys, she has a particular interest in maternal health and child health. She is currently working with the Lewisham Public Health Team as part of her training to become a GP.

Anita Banerjee is an obstetric physician, diabetes and endocrinology consultant and internal medicine honorary reader in obstetric medicine at King's College London. Involved in clinical practice and working locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, Anita specialises in working with complex medical conditions in pregnancy and high risk pregnancies, and has spoken at conferences locally, nationally and internationally. Anita currently works as an obstetric physician consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital in London.

Here’s what Our Healthier South East London has to say:
“At Our Healthier South East London, we know how important it is to support our residents, especially those most vulnerable. This is why we are working hard to reach and engage expectant families and those thinking about having children so they can quickly access clear information and advice that is most relevant to them. Our ‘Ask the expert Q&A’ is just one way that we hope to provide expectant families with the vital information they need to make an informed choice about their vaccination decisions” - Pamela Froggatt, Our Healthier South East London Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement

Do you have a question on the latest advice on COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy? Or perhaps you would like to understand more about the potential benefits and side effects? Whatever your question is, post on this thread for the experts to answer.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
Insight T&C's apply

@HobNobAddict

Have the boosters been tweaked to take account of the delta variant, and does this mean the dose is stronger ? I had bad side effects (in bed for 2 days) after my first dose.

@HobNobAddict To date the boosters administered have not been 'tweaked' to take into account the delta variant. On going studies are required.

@FuggyPidding

Is there a 'better' time during pregnancy to have the vaccine? E.g.. is month 6 safer than month 1 for example, or does it not matter?

@FuggyPidding We would recommend the earlier you are vaccinated the better, as this will protect you from contracting COVID during pregnancy. It takes several weeks after the administration of the vaccine to acquire immunity.

@clopper

Which vaccine is the safest for pregnant women to receive? How and why are pregnant women so badly affected by covid? Have any pregnant women been adversely affected by the vaccine ( or their babies). I want to persuade my pregnant daughter to get the vaccine so it would be good to know these things.

@clopper We would recommend following the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) guidance and have either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccination during pregnancy. Women during pregnancy, if they contract COVID, can become more sick especially in the second half of pregnancy. To date there is no evidence that pregnant women have been adversely affected by the vaccine.

@HotToddyColdSauvignon

Is the booster safe for pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy?

@HotToddyColdSauvignon Yes, the booster is safe for all stages of pregnancy.

@BristolMum96

Do you have to avoid other vaccines when you have a covid jab? For example, could I have the covid vaccine near to when I have whooping cough vaccine during pregnancy?

@BristolMum96 It is safe to have all vaccinations. You do not need to avoid any of them. It is important to have your vaccinations in a timely manner.

@Bearsar90

AstraZeneca

I had both doses of AZ before falling pregnant. My second dose was May, just before the decision was made to stop AZ in under 30's... thankfully I had no adverse reactions. I became pregnant in September and now I am due my booster. At 12 weeks, should I get it? If so... when?

You will be offered the Moderna or Pfizer booster vaccination, this is safe to have during pregnancy.

@Cuck00soup

Looking forward to reading the answers. I'm not sure what the planned date for this is, but please could I encourage pregnant women with questions visit NHS England if they are anxious or have urgent queries?

www.england.nhs.uk/2021/10/nhs-encourages-pregnant-women-to-get-covid-19-vaccine/

Unfortunately, pregnant women who contract covid, especially in later pregnancy are at increased risk of premature labour and there are health risks to mothers and babies as a result. Please do speak to your GP or midwife if you have any concerns.

In England, If you had AZ as a first vaccine and are needing to complete your course, you can now ask your GP to prescribe Pfizer or Moderna as a patient specific direction (PSD) and take the prescription to your local Vax centre.

@Cuck00soup I agree with you, thank you for sharing these very useful and trusted resources.

@Finknottlesnewt

When one fifth of the people occupying intensive care beds between July -October are pregnant and unvaccinated... and there have been no double jabbed pregnant women in ICU with Covid. What more information do you need to weigh the risks . But surely even the most mathematically challenged can work out that your chances of a successful pregnancy are enhanced several times over if you have the vaccine rather than not ?

We strongly urge pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon as possible

@L1ttleb1t

Is there any research on whether pregnant women have the same level of protection from the vaccines as non pregnant women? Do immune system changes in pregnancy affect the vaccines as efficacy and/or how long protection lasts?

@L1ttleb1t A very good and thought provoking question. We have robust data of > 200,000 women from across the US & UK, who have received the COVID-19 vaccine with no safety concerns. Changes in the immune response in pregnant women occur, in order to allow the mother to tolerate the semi-allogeneic fetus. We need more studies to monitor and understand how pregnant women respond to the COVID-19 vaccine. Refer to www.gov.uk/government/news/new-study-into-covid-19-vaccine-dose-interval-for-pregnant-women

@Findingapath

I gratefully took the vaccine at 6 and 7 months pregnant, in May and June this year. I felt confident in my decision but appreciated not all pregnant women would feel that way. Although nothing was mentioned at the time, I had hoped that the number of pregnant women in the general population taking the vaccine (and their outcome) would be recorded to ultimately present as data and evidence to help other women make the decision. Can you confirm if this is the case?

@Findingapath Real world registries of pregnant women who have had the COVID vaccination are in place around the world. Each week more and more data is being shared with us for this reason. One example is the COVID-19 Vaccines International Pregnancy Exposure Registry (C-VIPER). The objective is to evaluate obstetric, neonatal, and infant outcomes among women vaccinated during pregnancy to prevent COVID-19.

@HazMac

I'm pregnant and have received 2 vaccines. However, I'm concerned and feel I need a 3rd booster shot. I had 2 jabs of Astrazeneca with only a 5 week gap (28/04/21 & 08/06/21). I'm obese, 41 and baby is due on 07/01/22 which is 7 months after my 2nd jab. They say Astrazeneca only protects 67% after 4-5 months (is thus lower when pregnant?) and that you are more at risk if its the 3rd trimester, you're 35+ and if you're obese. I feel I need a booster in December, 6 months after 2nd jab and 1 month before baby arrives. There have been so many confusing messages to pregnant women from NHS staff, PHE and the JVCI; don't get the vaccine, get the vaccine, you're not high risk enough for a booster but 1 in 5 unvaccinated pregnant women are in ICU......we already know vaccine immunity wanes.

What kind of message does this give to pregnant women and why haven't the government protected pregnant women by offering them the booster?
I'd quite happily pay for another dose of the Astrazeneca if I could, any extra protection in winter when my baby is due would offer peace of mind and protect my baby too.

@HazMac The booster is not currently being offered routinely to pregnant women so you will not be invited unless you fall into one of the eligible groups - frontline health and social care workers; all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19; adult carers; adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals; all adults aged 50 years or over; those living in residential care homes for older adults. I would recomment the Royal College of Obstricians and Gynaecologists website as a great source to check for any changes to this current guidance.

@HazMac

When will the rest of the population (inc pregnant women) be offered a booster? If you have had Astrazeneca will you get your booster sooner as it offers less protection? How many double vaccinated pregnant women end up in ICU and how many months after the 2nd vaccine does this happen? What % protection is offered to pregnant women each month after the 2nd vaccine with Astrazeneca and Pfizer? Can pregnant women take the two new anti-viral drugs the government has purchased?

@HazMac The guidelines are constantly being reviewed. The booster is not currently being offered routinely to pregnant women so you will not be invited unless you fall into one of the eligible groups; frontline health and social care workers; all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19; adult carers; adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals; all adults aged 50 years or over; those living in residential care homes for older adults. I would recommend the Royal College of Obstricians and Gynaecologists website as a great source to check for any changes to this current guidance.

@FourteenSixteenTwentyTwo

I read about the sad case of the woman who caught Covid at 8.5 months who died due to be unvaccinated and it’s really scared me. But similarly I know several pregnant women who are scared to have the vaccine and concerned about what it might to do to their baby.

With that in mind, what’s the best way to explain to pregnant women the importance but also give reassurance? Are there some statistics we can share than show it is the best course of action for both mother and child?

Reference www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/news/2171-covid-19-in-pregnancy-2 The latest information from the UKOSS study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, released as part of an infographic summary, shows clear evidence of the real world effectiveness of vaccination against covid in pregnancy. More than 98% of women admitted with symptomatic covid-19 in pregnancy were unvaccinated. Of 235 women admitted to intensive care, only 3 had received a single dose of vaccine, and none had received both doses. Data from MBRRACE-UK also shows that maternal deaths from COVID-19 continue to occur, with more deaths in the third (Delta) wave of infection that either of the two previous waves, again with most women unvaccinated. All pregnant women are recommended to have a covid vaccine by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

@feejee

I've had my first 2 vaccinations, but was expecting to get the booster soon, as i was included in group 6 for the first lot. I've also now had covid as my son brought it home from school first week in September! Would i still need the booster now, or does the infection as a a booster? I've had my flu jab as well, so feeling a bit immuned out. Is there a best time during pregnancy for this?

@feejee The booster is not currently being offered routinely to pregnant women so you will not be invited unless you fall into one of the eligible groups; frontline health and social care workers; all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19; adult carers; adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals; all adults aged 50 years or over; those living in residential care homes for older adults. Even if you have had COVID, if you are eligible for a COVID booster, you can have it from 4 weeks from the start of theinfection. It is safe to have the vaccination throughout pregnancy. We would suggest getting it as soon as possible if you are eligible.

@TurquoiseVixen

How to persuade a pregnant friend who is reluctant to get vaccinated to get jabbed?

@TurquoiseVixen There is evidence both to highlight the benefits of the vaccinations and the risks if not vaccinated. Reference www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/news/2171-covid-19-in-pregnancy-2The latest information from the UKOSS study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, released as part of an infographic summary, shows clear evidence of the real world effectiveness of vaccination against covid in pregnancy. More than 98% of women admitted with symptomatic covid-19 in pregnancy were unvaccinated. Of 235 women admitted to intensive care, only 3 had received a single dose of vaccine, and none had received both doses. Data from MBRRACE-UK also shows that maternal deaths from COVID-19 continue to occur, with more deaths in the third (Delta) wave of infection that either of the two previous waves, again with most women unvaccinated. All pregnant women are recommended to have a covid vaccine by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. From the UK we now have data from over 65,000 pregnant women who have had the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The findings are consistent with the data from the US - there have been no new safety concerns raised.

@kagerou

I had two AZ vaccines while pregnant (2cd trimester) and my baby had no problems at all but i am now due to have my flu jab and covid booster while she is breastfeeding. I know there has been a lot of reassure about the jab during pregnancy but does the same apply while breastfeeding?

We would recommend if you are due/eligible for your flu and booster COVID vaccination to have this while breast feeding.

If I go to a walk in vaccination centre will they just allow me to tell them I want Pfizer then if my first dose was Astrazeneca.

Hi everyone - thanks so much for all of your questions. Having access to clear information and advice around pregnancy, fertility and the COVID-19 vaccines is crucial in ensuring that pregnant women, expectant families, and those thinking about having children have all the details they need to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. That's why we organised this important Q&A and we hope we've answered many of your questions with our responses.