'It's a difficult one': Sylvia Jeffreys shares vaccine concerns as doubt swirls around pregnant women
Expectant mother Sylvia Jeffreys says if she was offered the COVID-19 vaccine today she wouldn't have it because there is not enough information or research around the jab and pregnancy.
Pregnant women have not been encouraged to get the vaccine yet because research hasn't been done to assess the effects.
As a result, 35 per cent of Australian women in the 25 to 34 age group say they wouldn't roll up their sleeves, The Melbourne Institute's Pulse of the Nation survey showed.
READ MORE: Second shipment of Pfizer vaccine arrives in Australia
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Sylvia Jeffreys has been trying to find information about the vaccines and pregnancy but has been unsuccessful so far. Today
Jeffreys, who hosts Today Extra and is pregnant with her second child, has been trying to search for information to resolve her doubts.
"I've been trying my very best to find as many facts on this and to find the clear information and to find the clear information and government guidelines on this from health professionals," she said.
"At this point, being pregnant, if it were offered to me today, I probably wouldn't have it.
"But I would, first of all, consult my GP on that.
"I completely understand why there is hesitancy among this demographic because there just isn't the facts available at this stage. It's a difficult one."
Former Federal MP Dr Kerryn Phelps told Today that pregnant women should be cautious about getting vaccinated.
"The point is vaccines haven't been tested on pregnant women at this stage. If somebody is not with contraceptive cover, likely to get pregnant, they would need to be careful at this stage," she said.
Kerryn Phelps said GPs are happy to talk through the evidence to anyone having doubts about the vaccines. Today
Dr Phelps advises anyone having doubts to seek the advice of their GP.
"Speak to your GP, get the reassurances you need, find out the facts from reliable sources," she said.
"One of the worst things you can do is go to one of the conspiracy theory Facebook pages and be scared away from being vaccinated based on misinformation.
Registered Nurse Zoe Park receives the first COVID-19 vaccine from clinical nurse consultant Kellie Kenway at Gold Coast University Hospital. Australia's rollout began on Sunday with frontline workers first in line. Getty
"What we need is people to rely on facts. Your GP is the best place to go to to be able to talk through these issues."
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