If you’re currently expecting then you should know that the guidelines around pregnant women being able to receive the Covid-19 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have changed slightly.
Pregnant women can now qualify for the vaccine if they fall into any of the other priority groups, and can get vaccinated after consulting with their GP or another healthcare provider.
Royal College of Physicians of Ireland have provided guidance which outlines that pregnant women who suffer from other conditions which would otherwise make them vulnerable to the virus, such as diabetes, making them high-risk, should be given the Covid-19 vaccine.
However, the HSE previously said just last week, “Although the available safety data do not indicate any safety concern or harm to pregnancy, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of Covid‐19 vaccines during pregnancy.”
However, they have outlined that “Pregnant women at high risk of severe disease should be referred to their obstetrician or GP to discuss the risks and benefits of Covid‐19 vaccine,” with the vaccine being recommended when the “risk/benefit is favourable”.
They go on to explain that “the two dose schedule should not commence before 14 weeks gestation and should be completed by 33 weeks gestation. This is a precaution to minimise any possible association with miscarriage or pre term birth.”
It is also worth noting that the HSE have stated that there is no known reason to avoid breastfeeding if you have received the Covid-19 vaccine, and they advise that healthcare workers who have received the vaccine can continue to breastfeed afterwards.
