• Women who are less than three months pregnant can only be vaccinated since July 21, but will still be subject to the health pass rules in effect from August 5.

  • They point to a strong injustice, especially as the vaccination centers and health professionals still do not seem in favor of this early vaccination.

  • They expect the government to ease measures or an additional period that would allow them to have the choice to be vaccinated or not during their first months of pregnancy.

When carrying life without a sanitary pass becomes an ordeal.

Last Tuesday, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced the opening of vaccination against Covid-19 to pregnant women from the "first trimester" of their pregnancy.

If the announcement did not make the majority of French people jump, it was on the other hand a blow to a large number of future mothers.

Indeed, this measure means that they are subject like any French to the law on the extension of the health pass.

Except that until July 21, the Directorate General of Health (DGS) recommended to these same women not to be vaccinated against the coronavirus before the second trimester of their pregnancy.

And contrary to what many hoped, no deadline or relaxation has yet been announced.

"Technically impossible" to be vaccinated on time

Many of them therefore find themselves at an impasse.

Like Lyane, eight weeks pregnant, who had conscientiously made an appointment for a first injection at the end of August, at the beginning of her 2nd trimester of pregnancy, on the recommendations of the DGS and her gynecologist.

“Today, if I want to bring my appointment forward, I can't get another one before the 3rd week of August, as I don't have a slot available earlier in my town.

I will therefore have a complete vaccination schedule in mid-September, a minimum.

"

Same concern for Marie, who claims to have always wanted to be vaccinated. “As soon as the government gave the green light for the 30-something, I managed to get an appointment three weeks later. But around the time of my vaccination, I was surprised to find out that I was pregnant. On the advice of two general practitioners and my gynecologist, I canceled. In the many accounts that we received afterwards in our call for testimony, all the women indicate that there are still a few months and weeks, the medical profession advised them not to be vaccinated in the first trimester. “Can someone explain to me how a pregnant woman who potentially wants to be vaccinated now, can have her health pass for the holidays ?, asks Marie. It is technically impossible! We are the forgotten of the summer. "

"I will spend the next month doing PCR tests"

The first measures concerning the extension of the health pass have been applied since July 21 and the next ones included in the new health law are scheduled for August 5.

“What am I going to do during my vacation with my partner and my sister who accompany me and who are vaccinated?

Watching them eat at the restaurant and wait on the beach with a sandwich?

Laura asks.

Another solution to have a valid health pass when you are not vaccinated: present a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours. But again, the idea does not delight many people. "After the first three months spent hiding my pregnancy and passing for an anti-vaccine, I will spend the next month doing PCR tests to keep some semblance of social life," says Camille disillusioned. For these unvaccinated women, doing these tests is also a risk. "I am already nauseous and I will find myself standing in line, every 48 hours or so, sometimes under the sun, in the middle of the fourth wave, with potentially infected people and an increased risk of becoming contact and / or infected", emphasizes Julie. If last July 19 Gabriel Attal had announced on Franceinfo that"A woman pregnant under 3 months" would "not have to do tests every two days", the government has since remained silent on the subject.

Pregnant women refused to vaccination centers

But the galleys of women pregnant under three months could well continue beyond the summer. Because if the government has opened vaccination to them, on the side of the medical profession, some professionals seem more reluctant. In June, when Bertille got pregnant, professionals at her vaccination center told her that it was impossible to get vaccinated before the 4th month of pregnancy. “After Olivier Veran's announcement, my midwife and my attending physician were firm and told me that it was impossible to get vaccinated during the first months. "The latter still resumed an appointment with her vaccination center," and there no surprise: a nice refusal. Same experience for Laura, two and a half months pregnant and who made an appointment after July 21.“The person in charge of the center explained to me with great kindness that it was still not recommended today… and that it was safer to wait. "

During his announcement, Olivier Véran had specified that there would be exceptions to this vaccination.

More exactly three situations, "which potentially concern a few hundred French people".

Not sure that this involves Clara who has just learned that she is pregnant "after four years of a long course of assisted reproduction".

"Having a high risk of premature miscarriage", she will avoid getting the vaccine during the first trimester.

Same questioning for Adèle pregnant at two and a half months, forced to be vaccinated because a caregiver but being "in the most terrible of anguish, shared by the joy of pregnancy and the fear of the risk of losing the baby because of my problems. vascular '.

"The psychological pressure that is imposed on us does not help matters"

Many women have mentioned this anguish to us through their testimonies. “For months we are told to wait until at least the third month and then, suddenly, it must be done from the beginning of the pregnancy. There are already concerns when you are a young mother, fear for her future child. The psychological pressure that is imposed on us does not help matters, ”commented one of them.

The first trimester is a crucial period for the baby, during which “extreme precaution, especially when taking medication, is required,” Julie tells us.

The latter would like to have a little more perspective on the effects of the vaccine before making her decision.

“The 1st vaccination in France took place on December 27, 2020. Pregnant women under three months who have inadvertently received a dose have not even given birth to their child,” she emphasizes.

"I have the impression of being sacrificed on the altar of the sanitary pass"

A strong sense of injustice is emerging among these expectant mothers.

“I did not choose not to be vaccinated, I was the first to want to do it but I listened to the medical advice.

It's unfair to put everyone in the same basket, ”says Amandine.

“When was it possible for us to fall into such a breach of equality, in such disregard for particular situations? Karine wonders.

The minors can be vaccinated since June, they have two months of delay, and us, since this Wednesday, but we have to manage and drool over it.

I am mad with rage!

"I have the impression of being sacrificed on the altar of the sanitary pass - which I am convinced of the usefulness elsewhere - and that the precautionary principle is being sent off without further ado," adds Lhin.

When contacted, the DGS did not answer our questions about a possible additional delay or flexible measures for pregnant women.

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  • Vaccine

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Health pass

  • Anti-covid vaccine

  • Pregnancy

  • Pregnant

  • Parents

  • Health