Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the new advice on covid-19 vaccination for pregnant women from Public Health England issued on 16 April 2021, what steps he is taking to issue updated guidance for pregnant employees; and when that guidance will be available.

We do not currently have plans to issue updated guidance for pregnant employees. Advice for pregnant employees was published by the Government, in partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Health and Safety Executive on 23 December 2020.

The guidance sets out that if a woman is pregnant and has let their employer know in writing, the employer should carry out a risk assessment. Pregnant women of any gestation should not be required to continue working if this is not supported by the risk assessment.