JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its information regarding whether pregnant women should get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The health agency wants pregnant women to speak with their OBGYNs about their individual risks but also consider what not getting the vaccine means.
Sarah Locke, a pastor at a Jacksonville church, is pregnant and said she’s all for getting the vaccine once it’s available.
“If we can help save us while our baby is in utero that that is worth it for me,” said Locke, who is about 20 weeks along in her second pregnancy. “I’m really confident in its effectiveness, and I have a lot of faith in the scientists and the people who do this work.”
She said she won’t be getting the vaccine anytime soon, but she’s ready to whenever it’s available to her.
At the start of the pandemic, it was unclear how COVID-19 affects pregnant women.
“Hearing the complications that can come with me being pregnant and having COVID, it’s pretty tough and scary,” Locke said.
The CDC says there is limited data on how the vaccine affects pregnant women, but that they should weigh that with the risk of getting the virus, saying it’s a personal choice.
A lot of the unknown is because pregnant women were NOT part of clinical trials for the vaccine.
“The risks of me being pregnant and getting the virus is a lot more than me being pregnant and getting the vaccine,” Locke said.
Locke said she trusts the science used to make the vaccine.
The CDC said women who are trying to get pregnant don’t have to avoid pregnancy after getting the vaccine but should always talk with their OBGYN if they have questions.