MoH Update on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Pregnant and Breastfeeding Populations in Trinidad and Tobago

The Ministry of Health previously announced that, as part of its expanded vaccination roll out, pregnant and breastfeeding women can access specific COVID-19 vaccines and that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is available to the general population.  Members of the public, especially the pregnant and breastfeeding populations are therefore advised of the following:

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is approved for breastfeeding women, as well as pregnant women in their 2^nd and 3^rd trimester of pregnancy. The two-dose regime can be given during pregnancy or begin after delivery.

The Sinopharm vaccine is approved for breastfeeding women but not for those who are pregnant.

COVID-19 vaccine Combination

-If a woman received a first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine before pregnancy, she should not be given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine during pregnancy as the second dose. She can complete the two-dose Sinopharm regime after pregnancy. Clinicians should check for the latest guidance on this scenario.

-If a woman received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine before pregnancy, she is eligible for a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as her second dose, once she is in her 2^nd or 3^rd trimester of pregnancy.  A woman will be considered to be fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose. A third vaccine dose is not required.

As scientific data evolves, this advice may change to include other combinations of vaccines.

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago remains committed to safeguarding the health of the citizenry and will continue to provide safe and effective WHO approved COVID-19 vaccines to the population.