‘Jab is not for pregnant women’

PREGNANT women are being advised not to get the new coronavirus vaccine.

Experts are also advising women who are planning to get pregnant in the next three months not to take it either.

The reason that is being given is that there is “no data” on the safety of taking it during pregnancy.

It was announced yesterday morning that the UK was the first country in the world to approve a Covid-19 vaccine.

The vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech could be rolled out as quickly as next week.

But there is a warning from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for pregnant women not to take it yet.

It says: “There are no data as yet on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines in pregnancy, either from human or animal studies.

“Given the lack of evidence, JCVI favours a precautionary approach, and does not currently advise Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy.

“Women should be advised not to come forward for vaccination if they may be pregnant or are planning a pregnancy within three months of the first dose.”

More data which will inform discussions on vaccination in pregnancy is due soon.

And the JCVI says it will review the data as soon as it becomes available.

They also advise that only children “at very high risk of exposure and serious outcomes” should be vaccinated.

The report says: “Clinicians should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with a person with parental responsibility, who should be told about the paucity of safety data for the vaccine in children aged under 16 years.”