West Midlands breastfeeding mums "want more information" about Covid vaccine
There's currently no data on how it will affect them and their babies
Mothers in the West Midlands who are breastfeeding say they are concerned about getting a coronavirus vaccine due to a "lack of information".
It comes as health bosses across the region are encouraging mums to get vaccinated in the fight against Covid-19.
So far no data or research has been published on how the AstraZeneca of Pfizer/BionTech vaccines could affect breastmilk - or if they would affect mothers and their babies.
According to the Government's website mothers who are pregnant are being advised not to get the vaccine until more research has become available.
We asked mother across the West Midlands who are currently breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, if they would get the vaccine. You can read their comments below.
Sarah Nichols, Worcester
"There hasn't been enough women breastfeeding who've had the vaccine for those findings to be released to me or other mothers to know if it's the best thing to do for my baby and myself.
"If they came out with a report with findings from breastfeeding mums having the vaccine, which showed there was no impact on fertility or breastmilk - then yeah I would have it."
Imogen Preedy, Sutton Coldfield
"I'm quite lucky because I'm in one but last group to get it. I've got quite a lot of time for more research. I'm pretty confident if anything is going to come up that proves or highlights the vaccine is problematic then it will come up by the time I'm eligible for it.
"There's a huge amount of misinformation on all forms of social media and there's a lot of vulnerability among new mothers. I can see how it happens, you see a post that says 'if you consider having the COVID vaccine you're a terrible mother and you'll harm your child' and how that will affect you."
Olivia Evans, Oswestry
Olivia is a healthcare worker at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital. She cancelled her original appointment for the vaccine over concerns about breastfeeding, but following her own research she got it last month. She said "Do your own research. Make a decision, you've got to live with it, it's not up to anyone else. Ask Questions - that's the best thing you can do if you want answers. Try not to go on social media too much. Maybe for experiences and how they may come to the decision.
"I feel like misinformation targeted at breastfeeding mums kind of preys on you and you can get completely consumed by it, to the point where you're actually quite fearful to even make decisions and it's quite scary, but you have to take a step back, put the phone down and put your rational head on."
Sarah Flounders, Leamington Spa
"I'm really worried about how the vaccine's going to affect me and my baby. I don't think there's been any testing on woman who're pregnant of breastfeeding and that really concerns me and how it's going to affect me and my baby.
"I'm more than happy to have the vaccine if I can see more data that demonstrates that they have tested it on ladies that are breastfeeding at the moment and I'm quite concerned that there's not the data available."
Ruby Hudson, Worcester
"There's no information whatsoever. It's not just going to you it's also going to your baby who you're breastfeeding so without the research you just don't know if it's good or bad.
"When you're pregnant you have to have the flub jab and the whooping cough jab. I just think if they want us to have the vaccine we just need more information first so we're just left thinking "what do you do?""
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said:
"There are no data on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding or on the breastfed infant.
"Despite this, COVID-19 vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant, and the benefits of breast-feeding are well known.
"Because of this, the JCVI has recommended that the vaccine can be received whilst breastfeeding.
"This is in line with recommendations in the USA and from the World Health Organization".
What is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine?
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in the UK on 2 December 2020. Britain was the first country in the world to approve the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19. Pfizer is an American pharmaceutical firm while BioNTech is a German biotechnology company. The vaccine is very delicate and has to be stored at -70 degrees, limiting the number of sites that can administer the jab.
What is the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine?
A vaccine developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca became the second vaccine approved for UK use on 30 December 2020. This vaccine was considered "the way out" of the pandemic in the UK, thanks to the fact it is easier to store than the Pfizer jab, making it well equipped for mass roll out. GPs and vaccination centres across the country began administering the jab in early January 2021. Under 30's in the U.K. were given the option to choose a different vaccine to this due to small risks of very rare blood clots. Instead, under-30s would typically choose the Pfizer jab or later, the moderna jab.
What is the Moderna vaccine?
The third vaccine approved for UK use on 8 January 2021 was developed by American firm Moderna. 24-year-old Elle Taylor from Wales became the first person in the UK to receive the Moderna jab in April. The Moderna vaccine is similar to the Pfizer jab in how it works but is even easier to roll out as it can be stored at -20 degrees rather than -70.
What is the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
The fourth vaccine to be be approved in the UK was Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, released under the name Janssen. Notably, It is also the first single shot vaccine in use during this vaccine rollout.
Who was the first person to receive the Pfizer vaccine?
90-year-old Margaret Keenan became the first patient in the world to be vaccinated against Covid-19 outside a clinical trial. She received her jab on 8 December 2020 at Coventry's University Hospital. Mrs Keenan, who lives in Coventry, became somewhat of a fashion influencer after the charity t-shirt she wore to her vaccination appointment sold out. Profits went towards buying Christmas presents for hospital patients. The grandmother advised everyone who was offered the vaccine to take it, saying "If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too."
Who was the first person to receive the Oxford vaccine?
Meanwhile, Brian Pinker from Oxford was first to receive the AstraZeneca jab outside of a clinical trial at the age of 82. Mr Pinker, who was vaccinated on 4 January 2021, praised the medical teams administering the vaccine, saying it would allow him to "really look forward" to celebrating his 48th wedding anniversary with wife Shirley later on in the year.
When will I receive the vaccine?
Vaccines were offered according to vulnerability levels. First to be offered the jab were people in care homes and their carers, followed by those over 80 and health and social care workers. People aged 65 and above were next on the priority list and then high-risk adults under the age of 65 followed by moderate risk adults under 65. The vaccine was then rolled out by age group.
How will I know when it's my turn to get vaccinated?
When it is your turn to receive the vaccination, you will be informed by the NHS. You should only attend vaccination sites if you have been told to do so. Vaccines are provided for free by the NHS and they will never ask for bank details. Find out more about vaccine scams here.
What is a vaccine passport?
The Government debate the idea of a vaccine passport as proof of full vaccination required to enter venues like nightclubs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later "ditched" the idea and ensured clubbers that they no longer need to be double jabbed by the end of September 2021 to get into Nightclubs or big events.
Do I need a booster jab?
Pfizer/BioNTech booster jabs are rolled out as part of the Government's winter covid plan. Shots can be given to people aged 50 and over, those in care homes and frontline health and social care workers. All those who are clinically extremely vulnerable and anyone aged 16 to 65 in an at-risk group for Covid will also be eligible for a jab. There must be at least 6 months between a 2nd vaccine dose and a booster jab.
Oxford jab scientist Sarah Gilbert says booster jabs are "not needed for all" and that they should instead go to countries with low vaccination rates.
Will children be vaccinated?
The government have also made vaccines available to children aged between 12-15 as part of the country's winter Covid plan.
What about five to 11-year-olds getting vaccinated?
All 5 to 11-year-olds in England can now receive a coronavirus jab, following advice from the JCVI and the same decision being made in Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland is also expanding their vaccination programme to include the 5-11 age range. It means almost six million children in the UK will be offered the Covid-19 vaccination.