In this special episode, the Australian Government’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Professor Alison McMillan joins Midwife Cath to discuss the safety and effectiveness of getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is already such an anxious time for women, and throwing COVID-19 into the mix means it’s even harder to figure out how to make the best decisions for you and your baby.

In this chat Professor McMillan shares with Cath the most up-to-date evidence-based advice around the risks of COVID-19 for pregnant women, and the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.

They discuss:

• Why pregnant women are at greater risk from COVID-19 than others
• Why advice around pregnancy and getting vaccinated changed and what the most up-to-date advice is now
• Why women can get the vaccine at any time during pregnancy
• How the vaccine can also help protect your baby in utero
• What immunisation side effects you can expect during pregnancy
• And so much more

If you want to learn more about this topic, here are some useful links:

• Health.gov.au
  • Official information about the coronavirus pandemic, how to protect yourself and your family, where and when you can get vaccinated.
  • The Shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy is updated as new information becomes available.
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccination Webinar
  • Experts discuss COVID vaccination in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and those planning to be pregnant, dispelling myths and highlighting the global evidence, which has shown that vaccines are safe for women and their babies. The panel includes Dr Michelle Giles, Dr Clare Whitehead, Dr Vijay Roach, and Professor Sue Walker.
  • English: https://vimeo.com/606222671
  • Translated versions: https://linktr.ee/RANZCOG
• Australian Academy of Science - Pregnancies, periods and COVID-19 vaccines: what you need to know
  • A deep dive into some of the discussions happening around COVID-19 vaccines, fertility and menstruation to sift through the claims and the evidence
  • Link: https://www.science.org.au/curious/people-medicine/pregnancies-periods-and-covid-19-vaccines-what-you-need-know
• Australian College of Midwives - COVID-19 vaccination online e-learning space
  • This online repository equips midwives and pregnant women with the latest information about COVID-19 vaccinations. It and has resources, videos, online courses and more.
  • Link: http://acmcovid19info.org/
• Jean Hailes Podcast
  • This special episode of the Jean Hailes podcast features Associate Professor Nigel Crawford Head of Immunisation Services at The Royal Children’s Hospital. Professor Crawford answers your questions about the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines for women who are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Link: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/resources/vaccines-safety-and-women

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