The Covid-19 vaccine helps to build up your immunity to the virus, so your body will fight it off more easily if you catch it.
Getting the vaccine is one of the main things you can do to stop yourself getting seriously ill, or even dying from Covid-19, so if you’ve been offered an appointment, it’s important that you get the vaccine.
Its understandable to be concerned or worried about a new vaccine, but remember that it was tested on thousands of people and has been proven to be safe. Many millions of people across the world have now had the vaccine and serious side effects are extremely rare.
It usually takes many years to develop a vaccine. So you may be wondering how the Covid-19 vaccines have been developed in such a short amount of time. You may be worried that they have not been tested as much as other vaccines.
Any coronavirus vaccine that is approved must go through the same clinical trials and safety checks all other licensed medicines go through. This vaccine has been made quicker than usual as much more money and time has been put into getting the Covid-19 vaccines ready for use.
The current advice is that pregnant women in the UK should get vaccinated with either the Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna vaccines (both doses). This is because the safety monitoring data is for these two vaccines.
The evidence shows that the vaccines are safe and if you are double vaccinated, you are best protected from Covid-19.
As pregnancy progresses to the third trimester, if unvaccinated, women are at a greater risk of becoming seriously unwell. This can affect both the health of you and your baby.
Remember, it is your choice whether you get the vaccine, but talking to a health professional can help you make the right decision.
There are no safety concerns about women breastfeeding and having the Covid-19 vaccine. There is no evidence of risk to your baby when breastfeeding. So if you are breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, you can continue to do so after having your vaccination.
You may have heard some people say on social media that the vaccine for Covid-19 can affect your fertility. This may be worrying to hear and make you feel anxious about the vaccine. But this is not true.
There’s no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines will affect fertility. You don’t need to avoid trying for a baby after receiving the Covid-19 vaccination.
Read some common questions about fertility and the Covid-19 Vaccine
Where Can I Get My Covid-19 Vaccine?
Take your red book or appointment card along with you when getting vaccinated to show that you are pregnant, and you may be able to get your vaccine straight away without booking or waiting in a queue. Take your partner with you too so they can be vaccinated at the same time.
After I Have Had The Vaccine
Like most medicines and vaccines, sometimes you may get side effects from the Covid-19 vaccine. Most of these are mild and short-term, and not everyone gets them. Even if you do have symptoms after the first dose, its still really important to have your second dose. Having the full dose will give you the best protection.
Some of the side effects include:
If this is your first dose, you should have a record card with your next appointment in between 3 and 12 weeks time. It is important to have both doses of the same vaccine to give you the best protection.
Watch the video below to see what you should do after your first dose.
Pregnancy And Breastfeeding Q & A
If you feel worried and want more advice you can speak to your midwife or your GP.
You can contact the Healthy Child Programme by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you are 11-19 you can text Chathealth on 07480 635060 for confidential advice from one of the Healthy Child Programme team.
You can speak to other Norfolk parents and carers by clicking our online community forum below.
