Recently, I have had multiple pregnant patients and patients who are planning a pregnancy, ask me whether they should get the Covid-19 vaccine if they get the opportunity.
The answer to this question is not a simple “yes” or “no” but rather needs to be considered with the following information.
Firstly, the COVID-19 vaccine is not a live/replicating vaccine. It employs a similar means to create antibodies as others vaccines that we know are safe in pregnancy (such as the influenza, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines). This means that theoretically, it should be safe as safe as these vaccines typically are.
Secondly, we know that getting Covid-19 in pregnancy does have implications – Please see this previous blog for more information about this. (https://drgraemebirdsey.co.za/covid-19-in-pregnancy-navigating-uncertain-times/)
Unfortunately, pregnant women have largely been excluded from vaccine trials. So there are not much data with the use of the vaccines in pregnancy.
However more data are emerging as more pregnant women are getting the vaccine which so far reflect a relative safety.
Currently, both local and international guidelines recognize the risk of getting COVID-19 in pregnancy and recommend that if pregnant women can access the vaccine, they should do so. This is with the understanding that because of the limited safety data, no one can guarantee the vaccine’s safety.
I would recommend, unless you have a known contraindication to the vaccine, that you take the opportunity to get the vaccine if you are able to do so as per the vaccine rollout protocols.
Here is a useful link with more in-depth information from the South African Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.