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Hot off the press: @US_FDA hearing on #COVID19 vaccine: Under EUA, pregnant & lactating women would be free to make their own decision on receiving the vaccine in conjunction with their healthcare provider
Huge WIN for #women everywhere! More below on why this is even an issue
Huge WIN for #women everywhere! More below on why this is even an issue
Guidance from the UK's approval of Pizer/BioNTech vaccine states that it should NOT be given to pregnant/ BFing women because we were excluded from the trials:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940565/Information_for_Healthcare_Professionals_on_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940565/Information_for_Healthcare_Professionals_on_Pfizer_BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine.pdf
Why were women excluded from the trials? Lots of reasons, but mostly historic precedent, concerns about delaying approval, etc.
But as the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine @MySMFM puts it, "the practice of 'protection by exclusion' is harmful" and is a detriment to women.
But as the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine @MySMFM puts it, "the practice of 'protection by exclusion' is harmful" and is a detriment to women.
HCWs especially are high risk. But Uk's guidance to not offer it to BFing women has made many HCWs fear that their hospitals will refuse to give them the vaccine. Many women have come out and said that they are willing to lie on the consent about BF status to receive it
Why are women willing to lie and take the risk? As @MySMFM has said there is "no biological plausibility" for excluding lactating women. In fact, early studies have shown that women with COVID-19 itself can safely BF their infants and protective Abs have been found in milk
Also, we know that almost all vaccines are safe in BFing with 2 exceptions: smallpox & yellow fever (both live). The CDC says that if travel to an endemic area cannot be avoided, get it.
The Pfizer vaccine is not live, and to state the obvious, we are living in an endemic area
The Pfizer vaccine is not live, and to state the obvious, we are living in an endemic area
Finally, for HCWs who are high risk, protection against COVID19 is paramount. Women are tired of being brushed aside in HC. BFing HCWs are already crowded into renovated janitor's closets (aka lactation rooms) while serving on our frontlines.
So THANK YOU to the @US_FDA for giving us the opportunity to make an informed decision.
For all the health systems that have told HCWs they cannot get it if they are pregnant/BFing, PLEASE reconsider your policy now! And for those still creating a policy, the FDA guidance is out
For all the health systems that have told HCWs they cannot get it if they are pregnant/BFing, PLEASE reconsider your policy now! And for those still creating a policy, the FDA guidance is out
More updated guidance from @acog and @MySMFM re: COVID19 vaccine in pregnant and lactating individuals, further solidifying this rec:
https://www.acog.org/en/Clinical/Clinical%20Guidance/Practice%20Advisory/Articles/2020/12/Vaccinating%20Pregnant%20and%20Lactating%20Patients%20Against%20COVID%2019
https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/2632/FDA_final.pdf
https://www.acog.org/en/Clinical/Clinical%20Guidance/Practice%20Advisory/Articles/2020/12/Vaccinating%20Pregnant%20and%20Lactating%20Patients%20Against%20COVID%2019
https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/2632/FDA_final.pdf
