Recommendation 22

HM Government Accepted

the risks of any adverse events, particularly in pregnant women. Unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated pregnant women are at an increased risk of becoming severely ill and of pre- term birth if they contract COVID-19. Vaccination is the best way to protect against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy for both women and babies, including admission of the woman to intensive care and premature birth of the baby. Government Response: Impact of Covid-19 on new parents: one year on 11 second dose. Pregnant women can book a second dose 8 weeks after their first dose. Similarly, women who become eligible for a booster dose during pregnancy, having had their initial 2 doses prior to pregnancy, do not need to delay the booster. On 30 July 2021, a letter was sent to all maternity, primary care, pharmacy services with an ask to provide advice on vaccination in pregnancy at every antenatal contact and ensure materials/information are available in all antenatal settings. For healthcare professionals, there is also the following checklist to aid discussions on the potential benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, and to gain informed consent. NHS England and Improvement (NHSE/I) have encouraged and supported webinars and engagement sessions which have been specifically focused on women’s vaccines concerns and have also been tailored to specific demographic groups. For example, NHS England have run a ‘vaccination in pregnancy masterclass’ session for midwives. NHSE/I’s Chief Midwifery Officer, as well as ‘media medics’ and other clinical figures such as Dr Nikki Kanani, have made appearances on consumer and lifestyle media to reassure people about their concerns. Government and NHSE/I have been sharing case stories of women who have had the vaccine before, during or after pregnancy to reassure women who may still be concerned. In October 2021, NHS England made an announcement encouraging pregnant women to come forward and get their vaccine. New data from UKHSA on the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy was published in November 2021 and shared with the media. On 1 December 2021, the NHS wrote a letter to healthcare colleagues asking them to advise pregnant women of the benefits of COVID-19 and flu vaccination. On 16 December 2021, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) announced that pregnant women would be moved into priority group 6 alongside adults under the age of 65 who have long term health conditions, and urged pregnant women to get their first and second dose as soon as possible, as well as their booster jabs.