Another lovely infographic from the @BMJMedicine team illustrating the @NPEU_UKOSS data on omicron SARS-CoV-2 and pregnancy and the impact of vaccination on reducing disease severity. Full paper here https://t.co/ZpbezFQohf pic.twitter.com/4QFEYVkuE6

— Marian Knight MBE (@Marianfknight) September 2, 2022

Incorrect information about the Covid vaccine and pregnancy is spreading online.

Extensive data shows the vaccine is safe and highly effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Pregnant women will also be eligible for an autumn booster.

More: https://t.co/uRfg01f5zj pic.twitter.com/tAsSl7Iacc

— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) August 30, 2022

So as expected, AVers are once again spreading lies.

This time about the UK Gov apparently recommending against vaccination in pregnant and breastfeeding women; simply because they updated an OLD document from back when the vaccines were first released:https://t.co/WBTa6N1VxD

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

This document is simply the "Public Assessment Report (PAR) for COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2" and explains how the product was assessed and authorised under "Regulation 174 of the Human Medicine Regulations"; it is not a document that is going to be updated constantly outside…

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

So what edits have been made to this document since? Very few, and minor edits as we will see below:

Edit #1:

A minor edit primarily to update the age eligibility. pic.twitter.com/2rMzXZKbZK

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

Edit #3:

An addition to state that the MHRA granted an "extension of indication" for individuals 12 years of age and older: pic.twitter.com/qcE1IzxXRd

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

Furthermore, @RCObsGyn has had to recently remind people that they STILL recommend vaccination because of this:https://t.co/rFrtlnKXDe

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

So no, nothing has changed, the UK Gov is NOT recommending against vaccination in pregnancy or breastfeeding women; it is STILL recommended.

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

New update by @UKHSA:https://t.co/UvpnMI2bb0

— Mr. B – 🐳 🐙 🪲 (@yeahnaa333) August 30, 2022

He claims it supersedes previous advice. The previous advice refers to the delta wave ( (16 May 2021 to 31 October 2021) so is clearly not previous advice 2/ pic.twitter.com/RlUdRWNJ6A

— Dr Susan Oliver (PhD) (@DrSusanOliver1) August 30, 2022

If you are interested in the actual data on vaccination and pregnancy, I cover a recent systematic review at the end of this video:https://t.co/qhjrlr4GE9

— Dr Susan Oliver (PhD) (@DrSusanOliver1) August 30, 2022

So this is a good example of how misinformation spreads and causes harm.
Here we have an apparent PhD saying the NHS doesn’t recommend the Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women. There’s a screenshot and everything.

But it’s complete nonsense. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/TGkHibbv5G

— Alastair McAlpine, MD (@AlastairMcA30) August 30, 2022

This advice has remained unchanged since April 2021.

The data we have since then shows the vaccine reduces premature labour and still births.

/3

— Alastair McAlpine, MD (@AlastairMcA30) August 30, 2022

Maybe it comes down, maybe it doesn’t.

Point is, the damage has been done. Even a correction and apology for the original tweeter won’t help. It will only garner a fraction of the attention the misinformation did. /5

— Alastair McAlpine, MD (@AlastairMcA30) August 30, 2022

And this is why science is losing.

And this is why simply saying “Let the marketplace of ideas decide what’s true!” is naive. The dice are loaded *against* the truth.

The only way to combat this is to hold those who spread misinformation to account. But Twitter won’t. /7

— Alastair McAlpine, MD (@AlastairMcA30) August 30, 2022

Addendum: anyone coming on here to spread more misinformation will be summarily blocked.

Take it elsewhere, please.

— Alastair McAlpine, MD (@AlastairMcA30) August 30, 2022