The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says there is insufficient evidence to recommend the routine use of COVID vaccines in pregnant women.Credit:AP
RANZCOG President Dr Vijay Roach said because of the limited spread of the virus in Australia,coupled with a general caution around advice to pregnant women about what medicines they can take,it seems “reasonable to wait for more data”.
“I think the underlying principal is caution when it comes to pregnant women and unborn babies,” he said.
“In the current context,given the risk of a pregnant woman[in Australia] acquiring COVID is so low,there isn’t a reason to suggest pregnant women get a vaccination.”
In its advice,published on Tuesday,the RANZCOG said the “large majority” of pregnant women who catch the coronavirus will experience mild to moderate flu-like symptoms. So far,there is no evidence of an increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects,the college said.
Pregnant women have not been part of earlier trials for the vaccines,so little is known about any potential adverse effects on those women or their developing fetuses. Dr Roach said that was the main reasonthe college decided it was not recommending the vaccines for most pregnant women yet.
“While it appears to be safe and while it’s probably safe,in a setting of low transmission we don’t recommend it be used universally,” he said.