Advice for pregnant women regarding the Pfizer vaccine: FOI release

Information requested

Request that Nicola Sturgeon publishes the advice she was following when she continuously demanded that pregnant women should take the Covid vaccine given that the latest release of Pfizer drug trial data states quite clearly that pregnant women should not be vaccinated with mNRA drugs, and that there are serious concerns over breast feeding mothers and even potential issues with fertility.

Response

This is a notice confirming that the information you have requested is already publicly accessible and as such exemption 25(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies. However I hope the following information is helpful.

Clinical experts have given careful consideration to the health benefits of vaccinating pregnant women, women who are breast-feeding, and individuals who are trying to conceive. The Scottish Government’s decision making in responding to COVID-19 was, and continues to be, guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), Health Protection Scotland and our Chief Medical Officer.

The Scottish Government also continues to follow the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) guidance, as the UK-wide regulator with responsibility for the safety of medicines and vaccines. The MHRA has approved coronavirus vaccines for use in the UK. Suspected side effects can be reported through the Yellow Card website.

NHS Scotland will only use a vaccine if it meets the required standards of safety and effectiveness.

Published advice and guidance on the offer of vaccination for pregnant women against COVID-19 can be viewed at the following links:

JCVI issues new advice on COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): letter from Chief Medical Officer on pregnancy and vaccines - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Pregnant women urged to get COVID-19 vaccine following new UK safety data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further advice and information on COVID-19 vaccination and pregnant women, breastfeeding and fertility is available at NHS Inform: Pregnancy, breastfeeding and the coronavirus vaccine | The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot). This link also details Public Health Scotland data that shows from December 2020 to October 2021, 98% of pregnant women with coronavirus who needed intensive care in Scotland were unvaccinated.

The Scottish Government's main priority is to reduce COVID-19 related hospitalisations and deaths, and vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to achieve this. The vaccination programme has already saved thousands of lives and prevented thousands more hospital admissions with serious COVID disease. This is based on real world evidence collected by Public Health England and Public Health Scotland that vaccines not only prevent serious COVID-19 disease but also reduce transmission of the virus and hence reduce spread.

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