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How do you advise your pregnant patients about the COVID vaccines?

Healthcare workers answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines.

Sara Whetstone, MD, MHS explains how she advises her pregnant patients about getting the COVID vaccines.

 

More FAQ Videos on pregnancy, fertility & the COVID Vaccine

It’s very clear that all professional organizations believe that pregnant women should have access to the vaccine, and that they should engage in sort of shared decision-making with their providers about whether the vaccine is the best decision for them.

Of course, individuals can get the vaccine without involving their providers because it’s always their individual and free choice. So what I tell my patients is that the vaccine is not made from a live virus—so it does not consist of a live virus— and so in that regard, we sort of use safety data that we have seen from non-pregnant individuals and believe that there are no significant safety risk with receiving the vaccine in pregnancy.

And, then there are lots of ways that individuals can reflect about sort of whether the vaccine in pregnancy is the right decision for them that takes into account their individual risks, their community-based risks, their occupational exposures, as well as the benefits, that really none, but really the risk of COVID-19 in pregnancy.

This information is shared for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The views expressed are those of the featured medical professional and reflect information available to that professional at time of filming. Always consult a health care provider for any personal health decisions. Click here for vaccine FAQs from the CDC.

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COVID vaccines are safe and effective for everyone ages 6 months and older.

Immunity wanes over time. Keep up your protection against COVID by getting boosted when eligible.

Updated boosters are available for adults and children 6 months and older. 

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