I just love it when you try to use facts.

Full Fact is interesting on the female fertility point

We’ve been asked by a number of readers about claims that the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which has been approved for use in the UK, could lead to infertility in women.

The reason given for this is that the vaccine works by igniting an immune response to a spike protein on the Covid-19 virus’ surface, and that this immune response could also attack similar proteins that make up the placenta, and therefore reduce fertility in women.

But there’s no evidence this is the case.

Where did this claim come from?
The origins of this claim stems from a protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus which causes Covid-19), called a spike protein. This spike protein helps the virus enter cells and is also one of the ways the human body recognises a virus and knows to let its immune cells attack it.

The Pfizer vaccine works by giving the body the instructions on how to make this spike protein, so it can generate an immune response that attacks the virus via the spike protein faster and more effectively if it is later infected.

The building blocks of proteins are called amino acids, and it’s sequences of those that make up different proteins.

A small part of this spike protein resembles a part of another protein vital for the formation of the placenta, called syncytin-1. But the sequence of amino acids that are similar in syncytin-1 and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is quite short.

But only two very small parts of these proteins look the same—it’s not the whole protein—and therefore realistically the body’s immune system is not likely to confuse the two, and attack syncytin-1 rather than the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 and stop a placenta forming.

What do the experts say?
Virology professor Ian Jones at the University of Reading told Full Fact, via the Science Media Centre, that the spike protein and syncytin-1 don’t look similar enough for the same antibodies that the body would create as an immune response to the vaccine, to bind to and attack syncytin.

He said syncytin-1 is “completely unrelated to the SARS [spike] protein” and the risk of infertility is “therefore essentially fictitious.”

Professor Jonathan Stoye, Virologist at the Francis Crick Institute, told Full Fact these proteins are not identical, as some have claimed.

On whether the vaccine could cause an immune reaction to the syncytin-1 protein vital for placenta formation, he said: “I would never say never, but the possibility is vanishingly small.”

What did the trials show?
There also isn’t any evidence from trials of the Pfizer vaccine that it affects fertility.

As the vaccine stimulates an immune response to the spike protein, if it did affect fertility we might also expect to see Covid-19 infections affecting this too, as the body should produce a similar immune response if infected. But we don’t. Although it has been suggested that Covid-19 cases seem to be more severe in pregnant women, there doesn’t seem to be evidence that Covid-19 causes women to lose their pregnancy, or struggle to get pregnant later.

The government currently says that the Pfizer vaccine “has not yet been assessed in pregnancy, so it has been advised that until more information is available, those who are pregnant should not have this vaccine.”

A number of Facebook posts point to UK government-published guidance on this vaccine, that says: “It is unknown whether COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 has an impact on fertility.”

Although we haven’t had years to watch what happens after people get the vaccine, this doesn’t mean there’s any evidence this vaccine might impact fertility. It just means that hasn’t been explicitly studied.

I see the Telegraph has a headline on this but I can't read the story. The CDC specifically says:

'Women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to avoid pregnancy after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine'

We also know that ,based on how mRNA vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for people who are pregnant'

And finally

'Observational data demonstrate that, while the chances for these severe health effects are infrequent, pregnant people with COVID-19 have an increased risk of severe illness, including illness that results in ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm births.'

Let me repeat, by being a conduit for mis-information you discourage some people from taking the vaccine. If you do that then you are going to be responsible for deaths. Why do you choose to spread your rubbish all the time. Take responsibility dammit.

God you two are being stupid

If we want the virus to circulate less then we need to prevent young people getting it. There have been periods of time when it was largely younger people driving the epidemic.

For this reason the silly old Government has been considering a schools-based vaccination programme. What dummies eh? Why waste all that money when clever people like you realise it's just not a problem if the virus continually circulates.

Or, to put it another way. We end up with a crippled economy until just about everyone has had the disease, with older people having the vaccine so not dying.

That would suit your Russian paymasters extremely well. Finish off the destruction of our economy following the extremely good start they managed to precipitate with their support of the Brexit process.

Totally agree

I'd answer this point that encouraging people to be responsible for their own decisions is being responsible for deaths.

We don't hold car dealerships responsible for deaths. People know the risks associated with driving but make their own decision based upon risk.

We don't hold the Army Careers office responsible for people dying in the Army. Those who chose to join the Army do so taking their own risk.

So it's really quite annoying that someone who accuses others of being stupid would come out with a statement like that. A statement that reads like over emotional claptrap.

Life rarely involves absolutes....far from 'sowing doubt' I'm presenting reality....this is a beta test and certain people want to present certainty where it doesn't exist.

That said, I most definitely recommend the elderly and ill take a vaccine. Outside of that demographic I only support that people make their own decisions....which I won't criticise as we are meant to be free.

Forced vaccination should never be considered in a free society.

Edited by Stirlingsays (21 Dec 2020 2.08pm)

My point is that you deal in misinformation. You are not in reality encouraging people to take a measured decision, you are sowing seeds of doubt where there should be none. As a result you are influencing people to do something that will result in deaths.

You are therefore feeding the antivax beast, you should stare that in the face and take responsibility for it. If your intention is to reduce the number of people being vaccinated - which is your effect - at least own up and tell the truth. Otherwise you are simply a puppet for people with an agenda.

My point is that you deal in misinformation. You are not in reality encouraging people to take a measured decision, you are sowing seeds of doubt where there should be none. As a result you are influencing people to do something that will result in deaths.

You are therefore feeding the antivax beast, you should stare that in the face and take responsibility for it. If your intention is to reduce the number of people being vaccinated - which is your effect - at least own up and tell the truth. Otherwise you are simply a puppet for people with an agenda.