PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Pregnancy: Coronavirus (16 July 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the process is for ensuring health professionals (a) are discussing with pregnant women the risks and benefits of the covid-19 vaccine and (b) have up to date information on the risks and benefits of the vaccine.

Asked by:
Marsha De Cordova (Labour)

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with regional teams and providers to ensure that advice on vaccination in pregnancy, including the risks and benefits of vaccination to pregnant women, is being offered antenatally and that information materials are available across antenatal and primary care settings. To ensure that healthcare professionals are having these discussions, NHS England and NHS Improvement have asked maternity and primary care services to support all general practitioners, practice nurses, midwives and obstetricians to give objective, evidence-based advice to women on vaccination in pregnancy at every antenatal contact. For healthcare professionals, there is also a checklist to aid discussions on the potential benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, and to gain informed consent. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2021/04/C1293-COVID-19-vaccination-in-pregnancy-vaccinator-checklist-version-2-19-May-2021.pdf

As part of their professional development, healthcare professionals and medical staff are expected to familiarise themselves with the latest guidance on matters of clinical importance. This could be through a range of mediums including clinical guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, journal reviews, circulars, bulletins, Royal Colleges guidance, information from the General Medical Council and guidance from Public Health England.

Answered by:
Nadhim Zahawi (Conservative)
13 August 2021