Questions on Covid-19 vaccine and pregnancy? This video has answers

“I asked my colleagues the questions we are hearing from our patients,” says Dr Michelle Wise, an obstetrician and senior lecturer in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. “What is the risk to pregnant women if you get Covid-19? Is the vaccine safe in pregnancy? Are there benefits to mothers and babies to getting the vaccine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or is it better to wait?”

The resulting eight-minute video – created from home as a lockdown project by Dr Wise and her family – features obstetricians including Dr Kara Okesene-Gafa and Dr Ngaire Anderson, both of FMHS, and Dr Katie Groom, of the Liggins Institute.

The bottom line: the doctors recommend getting the Covid-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. “The vaccination for wahine hapū is an absolute must,” says Dr Leigh Duncan, of the Hawke’s Bay.

Dr Isabel Camano, who works at Waikato Hospital and is an honorary academic in FMHS, says: “There’s not many times we can be so certain, but this time, I know what is the best thing that you can do for your baby, for yourself and for your whānau – and it’s to get the Covid vaccine.”

Dr Wise is keen for the video to be a resource shared far and wide.