Covid vaccine and pregnancy: Can you have the coronavirus vaccine when pregnant?

22 March 2021, 10:44 | Updated: 7 June 2023, 08:56

Can you have the coronavirus vaccine if you're pregnant? Is it safe when breastfeeding? Here's the latest Covid vaccine information for pregnancy.

The coronavirus vaccine in England has so far been hailed a huge success as record numbers of jabs have been given out in just days and all those considered highly vulnerable now immunised.

However, while all types of the coronavirus vaccine have been deemed completely safe, the information around the Covid vaccine and pregnancy is still a huge topic.

Can you have the Covid jab while pregnant? Is it okay to have if you’re breastfeeding? These are the latest questions experts and doctors have been researching as the fight against the pandemic continues.

Related article: Are babies and children exempt from the lockdown rule of six?

So can you have the coronavirus vaccine if you're pregnant? Here's the latest facts and findings:

Can pregnant women have the Covid vaccine?

Any vaccine that gets approval has to be certified safe by a number of regulators meaning, should any of the treatments be approved, there will be no major side effects to worry about.

However, despite those guarantees, those who are pregnant or breastfeeding have been told to discuss the vaccine further with their GPs.

Latest information on the vaccine in pregnancy suggests you should not be vaccinated against Covid unless you are deemed high risk.

If you are high risk, or you work in a high risk environment, you should be offered the vaccine where you are then able to weight up the risks. If you are breastfeeding or want to fall pregnant, you do not need to delay the vaccine.

During the vaccine trials, it’s unlikely they will test on pregnant women meaning it would be difficult to tell the true effects in pregnancy.

It’s thought companies would wait for more data to emerge before considering pregnant women just yet.

Covid vaccine will only be distributed when it's 100% safe

Are you more likely to get ill with coronavirus if you’re pregnant?

At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest pregnant women are more likely to get seriously ill from Covid.

Pregnancy does, however, put you on the “clinically vulnerable” list which asks pregnant women to be more vigilant.

If you are pregnant, you are advised to get the flu jab.