Pregnancy and the vaccine: Is it safe for pregnant women to get the coronavirus vaccine?

When it comes to pregnant and lactating women, the FDA says "there are currently insufficient data to make conclusions about the safety of the vaccine."

News 12 Staff

Dec 11, 2020, 10:38 PM

Updated 1,300 days ago

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Health care workers are on deck as some of the first to get the coronavirus vaccine. But what if you are pregnant?
When it comes to pregnant and lactating women, the FDA says "there are currently insufficient data to make conclusions about the safety of the vaccine."
Pregnant and lactating women have not been included in any of the vaccine trials to date.
"You're leaving out a population that's extremely high-risk to become sick," said Dr. Patricia Calayag, deputy medical director and OB-GYN, Westmed Medical Group.
As a neonatal nurse, O'Dell should be in the first wave of people to get the COVID vaccine and doctors say she might be able to along with other health care workers who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine recommends that "health care workers, who are considered prioritized for vaccination, be offered the vaccine if pregnant."
Doctors say, that in a conversation between patient and provider, they'll consider factors like how often the patient is exposed to the virus. If they're on the front lines, they might be more likely to need the vaccine.
But both these women and their doctors are hoping for more data from drug companies and then specific guidance from the FDA.
But what about pregnant and breastfeeding women who are not health care workers? They are hoping there will be more data before the vaccine is out in the public sphere and they have access to it.


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