Sir Chris Whitty faces backlash over claims about Covid vaccination in pregnancy

Sir Chris Whitty faces backlash over claims about Covid vaccination in pregnancy.

PROFESSOR Sir Chris Whitty faces backlash on social media over claims about getting the Covid vaccination in pregnancy in which he stated that getting the jab was “a very good thing to do for your newborn baby.”

The UK’s Chief Medical Officer made the claims at the Downing Street conference where Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined his ‘Living with Covid‘ plan Monday, February 21. Mr Whitty was answering a question from a member of the public concerning getting the jab whilst pregnant.

“As a pregnant woman I’m told by the NHS website that I’m more likely to suffer a serious illness if I catch Covid, and in the third trimester it could also affect my baby,” the woman said.

“With the plans to remove Covid restrictions being brought forward, what are the suggestions women like me and other clinically vulnerable people?

“For the sake of removing social distancing and masks, are we effectively being told to stay inside and remove ourselves from the world?”

Sir Whitty answered: “It is really clear now that vaccination in pregnancy is a very good thing to do for you, a very good thing to do for your unborn baby, and in new data demonstrating that it’s actually a very good thing to do for your new-born baby.

“There is now data that shows that it provides protection for newborns. It’s protecting both you and your unborn.

“I would really really want to use this opportunity to encourage anybody who is pregnant and is not vaccinated please to do so.”

As reported by GB News, the Prime Minister added: “There was a folklore against vaccination for pregnant women, and that was not right at all.”

Many people on Twitter responded angrily to his address on February 21.

“Based on what study?? How long was the study? How are the babies doing now? Oh! There aren’t any that have been studied long enough. Publish the data!” one user said.

Another wrote: “You’re not even supposed to drink caffeine when your pregnant, how is this vaccine ok?”

One person called Sir Whitty a lier, stating that Pfizer recommends that their jab should not be administered to pregnant women: “That’s a complete and utter lie. This pic is from Pfizer’s website on vaccine tests in pregnancy.”

Thats a complete and utter lie. This pic is from Pfizers website on vaccine tests in pregnency. pic.twitter.com/W2xbq0Tecr

— Jungle Angelo 🚂 (@jungleangelo) February 21, 2022

“Using what peer-reviewed data and evidence from clinical studies exactly??” one person said.

However, one user noted: “Each person will make their own decision but my wife had Pfizer whilst pregnant and my now 9-week old son is perfectly fine and healthy.

Was born at 6lb 6oz and already 12lb and over 60cm, laughs and feeds like any other and is perfectly healthy.”

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