Can pregnant women take the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK?

See full answerCan pregnant women take the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK?


COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines available in the UK have been shown to be effective and to have a good safety profile. It is important to have your COVID-19 vaccinations to protect you and your baby.

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation ( JCVI ) has now advised that pregnant women are more at risk of severe COVID-19 disease. They are reminding pregnant women to have their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. They should not delay vaccination until after they have

What difference has COVID-19 vaccination made to pregnant women?


The latest analysis shows that women who had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine during their pregnancy and gave birth between April and October 2021 were more likely to give birth without any of the reported adverse outcomes than women who had not been vaccinated in pregnancy

Can you have the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine if pregnant?


Spikevax can be used during pregnancy. A large amount of information from pregnant women vaccinated with Spikevax during the second and third trimester have not shown negative effects on the pregnancy or the newborn baby.

While information on effects on pregnancy or the newborn baby after vaccination during the first trimester is limited, no change to the risk for miscarriage has been seen. Spikevax can be given during breastfeeding. Driving and using machines Do not drive or use machines if you are feeling unwell after vaccination. Wa

What are the risks of a COVID-19 infection if you are pregnant?

Having COVID-19 during pregnancy carries a far higher risk than having the vaccine, particularly in the later stages where it can have serious consequences for both mother and baby. It can double the chance of stillbirth and triples the chance of a preterm birth, which can have a long-term health impact for the baby.

Is Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women?

In the interim, WHO recommends the use of the Sinovac-CoronaVac (COVID-19) vaccine in pregnant women when the benefits of vaccination to the pregnant woman outweigh the potential risks.

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When do you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are pregnant?


They are reminding pregnant women to have their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. They should not delay vaccination until after they have given birth. This is to protect them and their babies.

What should I do if I have COVID-19 vaccine side effects?

Most side effects are mild or moderate and go away within a few days of appearing. If side effects such as pain and/or fever are troublesome, they can be treated by medicines for pain and fever such as paracetamol.

Is it safe to take the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy?


Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy for both women and babies, including admission of the woman to intensive care and premature birth of the baby. The vaccine is considered to be safe and effective at any stage of pregnancy.

Who are at higher risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19?

Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

What are the organs most affected by COVID‐19?

The lungs are the organs most affected by COVID‐19

Is it safe to take the COVID-19 vaccine during breastfeeding?

COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines available in the UK have been shown to be effective and to have a good safety profile. It is important to have your COVID-19 vaccinations to protect you and your baby. COVID-19 vaccination in p

Can you still catch COVID-19 after having the booster vaccine?


Can you still catch COVID-19 after having the vaccine? The COVID-19 vaccination will reduce the chance of you suffering from COVID-19. It may take a few days for your body to build up some protection from the booster.

Who can get a spring booster for the coronavirus disease?


People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those with weakened immune systems will be offered a spring booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Appointments will be available from the National Booking Service shortly.

What are the common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?


Common side effects

  • having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection. This tends to be worst around 1 to 2 days after the vaccination
  • feeling tired
  • headache
  • general aches, or mild flu like symptoms

What are some common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in children?

Common side effects their arm feeling heavy or sore where they had the injection feeling achy or like they have the flu feeling tired having a headache

What are the possible side effects of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine?

The most common side effects with BNT162b2 (which may affect more than 1 in 10 people) were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain and fever.

Do smokers get more severe symptoms of COVID-19 if infected?

Smoking any kind of tobacco reduces lung capacity and increases the risk of many respiratory infections and can increase the severity of respiratory diseases. COVID-19 is an infectious disease that primarily attacks the lungs. Smoking impairs lung function making it harder for the body to fight off coronaviruses and other respiratory diseases. Available research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 outcomes and death.

Are the elderly more vulnerable to the coronavirus disease?

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the global population in drastic ways. In many countries, older people are facing the most threats and challenges at this time.

Although all age groups are at risk of contracting COVID-19, older people face significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract the disease due to physiological changes that come with ageing and potential underlying health conditions.

Are people of a particular age vulnerable to coronavirus disease?

People of all ages can be infected by the COVID-19 virus.
Older people and younger people can be infected by the COVID-19 virus. Older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?


The MHRA confirmed on 9 September 2021 that the COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca can be used as safe and effective booster doses. Following review of data for the COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna vaccine, the MHRA and CHM experts also concluded that this vaccine can be used as a safe and effective booster dose.

All vaccines and medicines have some side effects. These side effects need to be continuously balanced against the expected benefits in preventing illness. The COVID-19 Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine was evaluated in clinical trials involving more than 44,000 participants. The most frequent adverse reactions in these trials

How long after having COVID-19 can I get the spring booster vaccine?


If you are unwell, wait until you have recovered to have your vaccine. If you have had confirmed COVID-19 you should ideally wait 4 weeks before having your spring booster.

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are unwell?

People currently unwell and experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should not receive the COVID-19 vaccine until they have recovered.

You can have the vaccine 28 days after you had a positive test for COVID-19 or 28 days after your symptoms started, so you may need to wait.

Can you get a fever or temperature after the COVID-19 vaccine?

Although a fever can occur within a day or two of vaccination, if you have any other COVID-19 symptoms or your fever lasts longer, stay at home and arrange to have a test.

Can you go back to daily activities after having your COVID-19 vaccine?

You should be able to resume activities that are normal for you as long as you feel well. If your arm is particularly sore, you may find heavy lifting difficult. If you feel unwell or very tired you should rest and avoid operating machinery or driving.

Can the COVID-19 vaccine affect your ability to drive and use machines?

Driving and using machines

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some of the effects mentioned under section 4 'Possible side effects' may temporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines.

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