The Bailiwick's COVID-19 vaccination programme is aligned to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance. The JCVI advice is that pregnant women are more at risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Contracting COVID-19 in later pregnancy increases risk of serious disease in both mother and baby, including the need for hospital treatment, and intensive care support.
The overall risk from COVID-19 disease in pregnancy is low but has increased in different waves of COVID-19. The chance of infection can also change very rapidly and is expected to increase over the winter.
COVID-19 vaccines provide a high level of protection against severe disease, but the level of protection falls over time. Women who have already had COVID-19 vaccines or a COVID-19 infection will still benefit from the autumn booster.
As the number of COVID-19 infections increases over the winter, a booster should help to reduce the risk of being admitted to hospital with COVID-19. The booster may also provide some protection against mild Omicron infection, but such protection does not last for long.
In the UK, over 250,000 women have been vaccinated before giving birth, mainly with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. These vaccines have a good safety profile in pregnant women and their babies. COVID-19 vaccines do not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb.
Evidence on COVID-19 vaccines is being continuously reviewed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the regulatory bodies in the UK, US, Canada and Europe.
COVID-19 vaccine is the safest and most effective way for women to protect themselves and their babies against severe COVID-19 disease. Unvaccinated women who become pregnant are strongly encouraged to come forward for their vaccine.
More information
- More information about COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy is available here.
- The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have developed a range of information on COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy, fertility and breastfeeding this can be found here.
- The Breastfeeding Network and Drugs in Breastmilk Information have produced a statement of the use of COVID-19 vaccines while breastfeeding which can be found here.
- The British Fertility Society have published a factsheet on COVID-19 vaccines and fertility, this can be found here.
- More information about what to expect after your COVID-19 vaccination is available here.
The National Childbirth Trust has put questions about the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy and breastfeeding to an expert panel from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, the NHS and Public Health England. The video can be watched below:
National Childbirth Trust - COVID-19 Vaccine during pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you have any questions that you wish to discuss with a clinician please contact the team at VCC@gov.gg and ask to be put in touch with a midwife who you will be able to speak to about any queries you may have.
