1/#pregnancy and #covidvaccine: SRO Bolton view-thread. I gave the very first #Bolton #covidvaccine in Dec 2020. I was nervous. It felt like a monumental moment for us all. We were telling people then that over 40,000 people had had the #vaccine at this point.
2/ we were also telling people they couldn’t have it if they were pregnant or planning a pregnancy. We had no reason to think it was unsafe but we had no evidence that it wasn’t. Thousands of women heard the ‘don’t have if planning pregnancy’ and believed it caused infertility.
3/ we spent weeks/ months trying to bust the infertility myth as young carers and health carers declined in the hope of a pregnancy. Pretty soon suspicion became reality that 1. Pregnant women could get really sick with Covid 2. Vaccinated pregnant women were doing just fine
4/ covid vaccines are new but vaccines certainly aren’t . In general, there are no known risks from giving inactivated or recombinant #vaccines in pregnancy, or while breastfeeding. We give others. With this in mind the USA vaccinated their pregnant women from outset.
5/ As 7 June 2021, over 120 000 pregnant women from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the USA had received either a #Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID 19 vaccine, with no evidence of harm being identified. Three times the number of non pregnant individuals we quoted when we set off.
6/ @RCObsGyn published clear guidance June 21 stating- #covidvaccines can be given at any time in pregnancy.
• some women may choose to delay vaccination until 12 weeks of gestation.
• If high chance of covid or severe illness from #COVID-19, the vaccine should be offered asap.
• some women may choose to delay vaccination until 12 weeks of gestation.
• If high chance of covid or severe illness from #COVID-19, the vaccine should be offered asap.
7/ #Breastfeeding women can receive a COVID-19 vaccine; there is no need to stop breastfeeding to have the vaccine.
• Women planning a #pregnancy or fertility treatment can also receive a COVID-19 vaccine and do not need to delay conception.
• Women planning a #pregnancy or fertility treatment can also receive a COVID-19 vaccine and do not need to delay conception.
8/ Anecdotally many women turn up pregnant between #dose1 and #dose2. Same second dose vaccine should be given regardless of type as per @RCObsGyn. Understandably #vaccinehesitancy is high amongst pregnant women. An average of only 60% having had #onedose. Some areas much lower.
9/ I will not push anyone to have a medical intervention. I will push for accurate information to be available. I do not judge. In a world of misinformation and an NHS 8 month whirlwind of changing guidance this is tough. Even some medical colleagues appear to be unclear.
10/ in the interests of being clear and because I get asked this by patients/ relatives/ employers and colleagues on a regular basis, my understanding is as follows: pregnant women are no more likely to catch #COVID. They are more at risk of serious illness and ICU stay.
11/ #pregnant women with #covid are 2-3 times more likely to have #premature delivery. Women testing positive for #covid at time of birth have double the risk of stillbirth. Antibodies are thought to pass to baby giving some newborn protection against covid.
12/ these decisions are never easy and as a mum of 3 I understand the anxiety of such a heavy decision. Every time we advise any meds for a pregnant woman we advise to limit use/ avoid etc and we work always on the balance of risk and benefit.
13/ my concern is will the easing of restrictions including masks, the rising cases and the #DeltaVariant tip the balance and put pregnant women even more at risk? #COVIDVaccination #pregnantwomen
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