YOUR PATHWAY TO
PARENTHOOD

With a ‘national emergency’ declared by the NSW Chief Medical Officer, it is important to consider your vaccination status. World experience shows that being pregnant and catching Covid carries a higher risk to you and your baby than when you are not pregnant. Vaccination whether Astra Zeneca or Pfizer, reduces your risk of catching COVID and if you do catch it, it reduces the chances of severe disease.

So why not?

With Astra Zeneca there is a 1:1,000.000 chance of a fatal rare blood clotting disorder. There is no indication that this is worse in pregnant women. Compare this with the odds of dying as a plane passenger 1 in 188,364, compared with 1 in 1,117 for drowning and 1 in 103 for a motor vehicle crash.

With Pfizer there is a similar low risk of damage to the heart.

My message is get vaccinated!

Our Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

recommends that pregnant women are routinely offered vaccination at any stage of pregnancy. This is because the risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn baby.

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. Furthermore, there is also evidence of antibody in cord blood and breastmilk, which may offer protection to infants through passive immunity.

Pregnant women are encouraged to discuss the decision in relation to timing of vaccination with their health professional.

Women who are trying to become pregnant do not need to delay vaccination or avoid becoming pregnant after vaccination.

So the experts say DO IT!

I support that view.