There is a lot more data showing the Moderna vaccine to be safer for pregnant women and their unborn babies, says Professor Michelle Giles.
During Fiji National University’s Explain the Science virtual panel discussion last Tuesday, she said thousands of pregnant women in the United States received the Moderna vaccine and studies showed babies were not seen to be born pre-term or with abnormalities nor were mothers more likely to experience side effects.
“Women should get vaccinated as soon as they can but I think if there are women who have particular concerns about one vaccine, I think we have a lot of accumulated safety data for the Moderna vaccine which is also very reassuring,” she said.
National co-ordinator for the COVID-19 vaccination program Dr Rachel Devi said that from next Monday pregnant women in Fiji would be given the choice of being vaccinated with the AstraZeneca or Moderna.
“We will not be cross vaccinating anyone.
“If anyone out there has already gotten their first dose of AstraZeneca during their pregnancy, they will get their second dose of the AstraZeneca.
“For those who have not been, they will be offered the Moderna but of course the choice is theirs.”
Prof Giles is an infectious diseases physician and professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Monash University
