Pregnant women and the Covid-19 vaccine

For pregnant and breastfeeding women, this access will depend on where they live.

On the long-awaited coronavirus vaccine ~

Clinical trials for the BioNTech vaccine did not include either pregnant or lactating women

and Pfizer has said available data is so far "insufficient"

to determine any risks to pregnancy posed by the vaccine.

"There were no data, period," said Dr Ruth Faden, a bioethicist at Johns Hopkins University

who specialises in the rights and health of pregnant women.

There is no suggestion that the jab is especially risky for pregnant and lactating women

there just isn't yet enough information to say.

Pfizer has said it followed the guidance of the US Food and Drug Administration
These women will not be included in clinical trials until the company completes so-called Dart studies

(developmental and reproductive toxicity), often conducted in animals.

Experts say this is customary.

In bioethics, pregnant women are described as "a complex population", Dr Faden said.

"Nowhere else do you have two entities at one time, both of whom are objects of moral concern."

"And by and large, no one cares more about the well-being of the offspring than the pregnant woman.

The first question you usually get is 'will this be safe for my baby?'"