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Practitioners reminded about COVID vaccine for pregnant women
Expectant mothers should be offered the Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, the RACGP and RANZCOG have said.
The RACGP and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) have urged practitioners in all jurisdictions to heed advice issued by RANZCOG and ATAGI that recommends routinely offering women the Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.
Global surveillance data from large numbers of pregnant women have not identified any significant safety concerns with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines given at any stage of pregnancy. The TGA has also not noted any serious side effects in its weekly COVID vaccine safety reports.
Despite this, RANZCOG President Dr Vijay Roach is concerned that pregnant women are still having difficulty accessing vaccination.
‘It’s critical that pregnant women, and their doctors, are aware of this clear advice and that barriers to pregnant women receiving the vaccine are removed,’ he said.
Aside from protecting pregnant women from potentially serious health outcomes, there is also evidence of vaccine-induced antibodies in cord blood and breastmilk, which may offer protection to infants through passive immunity.
According to RACGP President Dr Karen Price, GPs play a vital role in providing advice to pregnant women in communities across Australia.
‘GPs are at the frontline of healthcare delivery for pregnant women,’ she said.
‘We are equipped with comprehensive knowledge and expertise and best placed to advise pregnant women.
‘The data are clear – COVID-19 infection in pregnancy is high risk, and COVID-19 vaccination is very safe, and provides strong protection against the virus.’
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