COVID-19 booster vaccine extension welcomed by maternity Royal Colleges

on 02 December 2021

In the UK, COVID-19 booster vaccines will be available to all over 18s the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has announced, which has been welcomed by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

RCM and RCOG have welcomed this decision, meaning more pregnant women will be eligible to receive their COVID-19 booster vaccinations sooner.

The JCVI recommends that anyone over the age of 18 can receive their COVID-19 booster vaccination three months after their second dose.

The Royal Colleges are now urging pregnant women to book their booster vaccinations when the service becomes available.

RCM Chief Executive, Gill Walton, said: “It is more important than ever that pregnant women get the COVID vaccine or, for those who may have received both doses before getting pregnant, the booster. You can have that at any time during your pregnancy, but would recommend you try to get both vaccines before your third trimester.

“We’ve already seen nearly 2,000 pregnant women admitted to hospital with COVID-19, 98% of whom were unvaccinated. The vaccine is safe, it’s effective and it can protect you and your baby, so please do take it up.”

Vice President of RCOG, Dr Pat O’Brien, said: “The news today means that most pregnant women will now be able to have their booster vaccine and protect themselves and their baby against COVID-19.

“It is crucial that people who are pregnant are fully vaccinated and protected against COVID-19 and we would urge everyone to have the third dose when they are offered it. All doses of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are safe for pregnant women.”

More information about the UK rollout of COVID-19 vaccine and boosters can be found here.