Guidelines have been updated for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the vaccine will be made available for certain eligible groups. Find out more.
Initially, government guidance was that pregnant and breastfeeding women should not have the Covid-19 vaccine as there wasn’t enough evidence around its use for these groups.
But The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) published updated guidance on Covid-19 vaccines and pregnancy at the end of last year. They confirmed that there is not enough evidence to recommended routine use of Covid-19 vaccines during pregnancy, but that there are no known safety concerns.
They therefore advised that certain groups of pregnant and breastfeeding women should consider having the vaccination.
They advise that pregnant women who are clinically extremely vulnerable should consider having a Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy. This is because their underlying condition puts them at a higher risk of experiencing serious complications of Covid-19.
They also recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women who are frontline health or social care workers, including carers in residential homes, discuss the option of vaccination. This is because their risk of exposure to Covid-19 is higher.
If you’re pregnant, this Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) info sheet gives guidance on who can have the vaccine at the moment.
A health professional will discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination in pregnancy on an individual basis, to help you make an informed decision.
Read our articles on the Covid-19 vaccination if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
There’s more information about the Covid-19 vaccination on the RCOG website.
