Pregnancy vax call to protect babies
PREGNANT women are being urged to get vaccinated against Covid-19 amid fears of vaccine hesitancy.
Geelong hospital has treated 10 pregnant patients who were infectious with coronavirus since the start of the year.
Of that number, five were admitted to hospital, but just two of the patients were fully vaccinated.
There are currently two pregnant women receiving treatment due to Covid-19 at Geelong hospital and a small number of babies in the region have also contracted coronavirus.
Across Victoria, there have been nearly 100 confirmed Covid-19 cases in pregnant women this year.
Barwon Health women’s and children’s services director Geraldine Masson said pregnant women should consider vaccination as soon as possible to ensure they and their babies were protected.
“The risk of severe illness due to Covid-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn babies,” she said.
“I can understand that some women may have concerns about getting vaccinated during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, however, there are no major safety concerns about Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women in Australia.
“Further to this, getting vaccinated while pregnant may help give your baby some level of immunity to Covid-19, as antibodies you produce from the vaccine may be passed to your baby to provide them with protection within two weeks of your first dose of Covid-19 vaccine.”
Dr Masson said being vaccinated while breastfeeding was also recommended, as antibodies may be in a vaccinated mother’s breastmilk and offer the baby protection.
She said Covid-19 vaccines had a similar outcome to the flu and whooping cough vaccines, which were both used safely during pregnancy.
Dr Masson recommended anyone who was pregnant and concerned about getting vaccinated speak to their pregnancy care clinician or GP.
“Your GP, obstetrician or midwife can provide you with information about all vaccinations during pregnancy,” Dr Masson said.
Barwon South West public health unit director Professor Eugene Athan stressed the vaccines were safe and approved by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.
“With Covid-19 often more severe in women who are pregnant, they are a vulnerable group in our community that we want to ensure are vaccinated so they are protected along with their babies,” he said.
Walk-in vaccinations are available at the Norlane vaccination hub or appointments can be made on 1800 675 398 or at portal.cvms.vic.gov.au
For more information on vaccination during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, see health.gov.au