Are there support groups for mothers who had the Covid vaccines and now need additional support for their babies who require additional medical support because their babies have been impacted by the vaccine?

Question Number: 124
PDR Number: SQ22-000255
Date Submitted: 24/02/2022
Department or Body: Department of Health

Real-world evidence has shown that the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are safe for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. COVID-19 vaccination may provide indirect protection to babies by transferring antibodies through the placenta (during pregnancy) or through breastmilk (during breastfeeding).

A recent study from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown that babies of mothers who had two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines while pregnant had a much lower risk of being hospitalised with COVID-19 in the first six months of their lives. COVID-19 vaccines were 61 per cent effective overall at preventing hospitalisations in children whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. This is likely because they are born carrying their mother’s antibodies.

On 9 June 2021, a joint statement about COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women between the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) was published. Their recommendation is “pregnant women are a priority group for COVID-19 vaccination, and should be routinely offered the Pfizer vaccine or Moderna at any stage of pregnancy”. Global evidence has shown that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe for pregnant women. There is no evidence of increased risk of miscarriage or teratogenic risk with mRNA or viral vector vaccines.