Vaccine advice for pregnant women this Winter
New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has provided further evidence for the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.
Image credit: CDC
The evidence supports the safety of the COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, and demonstrates good birth outcomes in vaccinated women who had their babies between January and August this year.
There is also growing evidence that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester.
Recent data shows that between July and October 2021:
- Nearly 20% of the most critically ill patients receiving ventilation support in England were unvaccinated pregnant women.
- Around one in three women who are hospitalised with the virus need their baby to be delivered preterm to help them recover; one in five of those babies need care in the neonatal unit.
- Booster vaccinations are now being offered to all adults from 3 months after their second dose, in order to increase levels of public protection against the Omicron variant.
For the latest bite-sized advice the UK Health & Safety Agency have produced a leaflet for all women of childbearing age, and pregnant and/or breastfeeding women.
The Royal College of Obestricians and Gynaecologists also have comprehensive information on their website.
- Women can receive the vaccine at any point in pregnancy, and are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, to ensure maximum protection in their third trimester.
- Women who already received a first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine and didn’t experience any serious side effects, should continue to receive a second dose. Serious side effects from this vaccine are very rare and even less likely in the second dose.
- In line with the JCVI advice of 29 November, double-vaccinated women eligible for a booster will be called forward in order of descending age groups, with priority given to the vaccination of older adults and those in a COVID-19 at-risk group.
Flu vaccination
- Pregnant women are also being offered the flu vaccination.
- COVID vaccines or boosters can be given at the same time as the flu vaccine or the whooping cough vaccine.
