Pregnant People: You Don’t Have to Wait on Science to Get the Vaccine
By: Dr. Sofia Jawed-Wessel
Tags: Covid 19, Covid 19 Vaccine, Covid 19 Vaccine Trial, Vaccine Safety, Pregnancy

A few days ago the CDC released information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding people. Immediately I saw concerned posts from friends who are pregnant citing the “limited data” about the safety of the vaccine during pregnancy — they were reading this information as a warning that it might not be safe for them to receive the vaccine if they are pregnant or breastfeeding. This is NOT how I read the CDC’s statement. I read this statement as a guide for pregnant people and their physicians to use to make sure the vaccine is not withheld from pregnant or lactating people. I read this statement as the CDC making sure that pregnant people have full decision making power to get the vaccine. This statement is a very important step in giving pregnant people back their bodily autonomy without a formal green light from “science” and the medical establishment.

While it is true that there is not yet significant data to make a blanket safety statement for pregnant people that does not mean the vaccine is not safe for these groups. Most drugs have not been tested on pregnant people or other vulnerable populations because of the considerable red tape required as well as the ethical considerations. These extra precautions are important, but not just because of potential negative biological outcomes. Vulnerable populations are vulnerable for a variety of reasons that are not limited to only physical harm. For example, incarcerated individuals are vulnerable because of their increased risk of coercion and lack of overall bodily autonomy, but their biology is not unique because they are incarcerated and, therefore, if the vaccine is safe for the general population it is safe for incarcerated individuals. While it is true that pregnancy and lactation are biological states in which the body might respond to vaccines differently BUT pregnant and lactating people are NEVER included in the first round of any clinical trial. NO vulnerable populations are included. Red tape could not have been removed if ANY vulnerable population was included in safety trials and red tape needed to be removed to speed up the vaccine approval process.

Much too often, pregnant people are told that what science hasn’t confirmed as 100% safe is not “worth the risk” but science rarely prioritizes pregnant people and never deals in absolutes. The fact that trails on vulnerable populations that are biologically different (children etc) are in process right now gives me significant confidence in the safety of the vaccine because these trials would not come CLOSE to occurring if the researchers did not have significant confidence (and evidence to present to ethics committees) that it would not cause harm.

tl/dr: if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and want to get the vaccine: do not let the medical establishment scare you into skipping the opportunity. If you would rather wait for these trials that specifically include pregnant and lactating people: do not let the medical establishment coerce you into getting vaccinated (although I think this is less likely to occur). This decision-making tool is really helpful!

I am not a medical doctor, but I do have a strong understanding of public health and research. I am breastfeeding and when the opportunity is given to me, I will be taking the shot. I would do the same if I was pregnant. #imnotgonnathrowawaymyshot