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Sorry – but we need to talk about the C word!

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Written by Francesca Steyn; Co-Founder, Fertility Nurse and Clinical Lead.

With so much information about coronavirus vaccines – it can be very tricky to decide whether the booster vaccine is appropriate for you or your surrogate.

But one thing that we do know is that there is currently no evidence or data to suggest that the vaccine can affect your fertility or impact the chances of your surrogate conceiving and it has proven to be effective in the fight against the pandemic.

The Data

We also know is that there is some data out there to suggest that contracting Covid may affect your fertility as we have seen lower sperm counts in men who have had Covid or long covid, and that contracting Covid when pregnant can also be extremely dangerous. So in order to protect yourself and your surrogate, unless there is a medical reason why you are unable to have the vaccine, then the recommendations from the British Fertility Society and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is to have your booster vaccinations.


There is also no evidence to support that the booster vaccine:

  • Could be dangerous if you’re surrogate expresses or you are an IM breastfeeding your baby
  • Impacts egg or sperm quality
  • Causes miscarriages for your surrogate
  • Stays in your ovaries if you are an IM using your own eggs to create embryos

We have seen research to suggest that women who have been given the vaccine and then breastfeed or express breast milk do pass on antibodies to the newborn. So this means you will also provide some protection from the virus to your baby – maybe another reason to consider whether the booster is right for you or your surrogate.

Which vaccine, if you’re pregnant?

Pregnant surrogates will be offered either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine as a booster as these are the vaccines that have been used more widely for pregnant people around the world. There is absolutely no evidence that the vaccine will give you, your surrogate, or your baby Covid 19.

The government plan to roll out booster vaccinations at a much faster pace than we have seen previously, and this is to reduce the spread of the OMICRON variant of the virus. The WHO expect that this variant may spread much quicker than the original strain which is why we are being encouraged to have our boosters.

If you live in England, then you can go online here to book your booster vaccine https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ For other parts of the UK – you can visit  https://gov.wales/covid-19-vaccination-booster https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/the-vaccines/coronavirus-covid-19-booster-vaccination https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/get-covid-19-vaccination-and-booster-northern-ireland

If you are still unsure on whether to get vaccinated, please contact your GP, fertility clinic or MSJ team for more information.

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