Pregnant people (age 16 and older) can now book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine.
To book an appointment, call the provincial Get Vaccinated number at 1-833-838-2323 and inform the operator that you are pregnant. It is important to also register online with Get Vaccinated to ensure you receive an invitation to book your second dose at the appropriate time.
Pregnant women and individuals are being prioritized because those who have COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe illness than people who are not pregnant.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) and public health experts in B.C. all recommend that people who are pregnant and breastfeeding get the vaccine at anytime during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Other provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, have also prioritized people who are pregnant.
The decision to get vaccinated is up to the individual. For most people, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the safest choice to protect them from COVID-19.
While COVID-19 vaccines have not yet been tested in those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, health experts in Canada agree that getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a good choice for most pregnant and breastfeeding people.
You will need to make a decision based on your own comfort level, your individual risk of getting COVID-19, and the chance that you may get seriously ill if you get infected.
Use this new handout from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Perinatal Services BC to plan for your vaccine. Planning for your vaccine handout
BCCDC recommends vaccination because it reduces the likelihood of getting COVID-19; vaccination protects both you and those around you.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada recommends that pregnant or breastfeeding people should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine when eligible. Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization also recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine be offered to pregnant and breastfeeding people, if the benefits outweigh the risks for each pregnant person and their unborn baby, and if the individual makes their decision knowing that there is currently no evidence on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant or breastfeeding people.
To help make an informed decision, try to understand as much as you can about COVID-19 and the vaccines.
Learn more about the benefits and risks benefits of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
BCCDC and HealthLinkBC also have detailed information on vaccines that can help.
You’re the decision-maker, and the choice is up to you. Talk with your health care provider and consider your individual circumstances, including your likelihood of exposure to the COVID-19 virus at work and in your home and community.
Additional considerations include:
- Do you have medical conditions that could cause you to be seriously ill if you get COVID-19?
- Are you able to work from home to reduce the risk of getting COVID-19 until the end of your pregnancy?
