Wanting a baby? Have the COVID jab, say experts

Experts in Wigan are urging women who may be wanting to start a family, not be put off having the COVID vaccine.

It's in a bid to dispel baseless rumours that having the jab can affect peoples immunity, the claims have been described as "total rubbish".

In a Facebook event, in conjunction with the borough's Director of Public Health, Proffessor Kate Ardern, Wigan GP Dr Nadia Nadia Thornber said:

"Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding have been routinely and safely offered vaccinations throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding for many, many years."

"This is something that's done day in day out and the vaccine is what offers us the best protection against the virus which could be serious later on in pregnancy especially."

"I know that sometimes there can be concerns about what medications you take what vaccines you take when pregnant."

"But the COVID vaccines aren't what we call a live vaccine compared to MMR or yellow fever or things like that."

"There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines have any effect on fertility any claims you do see circulating around on social media WhatsApp, that kind of thing are unfounded."

"It is safe to have the COVID vaccine if you are actively trying to conceive or planning to try to conceive."

You can watch the full Q&A session below or by clicking here.

Despite the concerns about lower uptake among certain groups, overall uptake rates across Wigan & St Helens remain high.

So far 531,080 doses have been given out across by both Wigan & St Helens Clinical commissioning groups with 29,689 of those given out in the past week.

People under the age of 30 are also expected to be offered the vaccine in the next few weeks.

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