Pregnant women warned to get jab as Victoria records 450 new virus cases
Victoria has recorded 450 new coronavirus cases in the biggest spike of the latest outbreak – as a special plea was made to pregnant women to get vaccinated
Almost 40,000 people were given a vaccination in the past 24 hours, with 65.2 per cent of the adult population now having received one dose.
However, Health Minister Martin Foley called for more people to come forward, with an expert addressing women who are pregnant.
“We also saw 58,000 vaccination bookings made yesterday, which takes us to over 340,000 vaccination bookings made during this week,” Mr Foley said.
“Which is great, but there is still more capacity out there, and we could do a whole lot more good by getting those vaccines that are in storage into more Victorians’ arms.
“So, please continue to come forward.”
Warning for pregnant women
One of the country’s leading experts in managing complex pregnancies, Dr Ryan Hodges from Monash Health, has spoken about vaccinations among pregnant women.
Doctor’s warning for pregnant women to get vaccinated
As of tomorrow, any woman who is pregnant from 24 weeks onwards will be able to get priority access to vaccines through any state-run facilities in the same way that front-line health care workers and aged-care workers are able to.
“I am here today on behalf of my team to tell you that we are very worried,” Dr Hodges said.
“What we’ve seen over the last week has caused alarm, we have lots of women now who are very sick, who are very high risk of having their babies born early.
“We know that in pregnancy, coronavirus infections mean you are five times more likely to need to come to us at Monash.
“And when you do come to us at Monash there is a one in three chance you will need oxygen therapy
“There is a one in seven chance you be in intensive care.
“There is a one in two chance you will need emergency delivery of your baby.
“There is a one in two chance of caesarean section, and you are twice as likely your baby will be stillborn.”
Dr Hodges said that many women infected with COVID-19 are forced to give birth to premature babies.
“At the moment at Monash, we have seven women who are pregnant who are in hospital,” he said.
“One of whom is in intensive care at 26 weeks’ gestation, with a 600-gram baby. She is unwell.
“We have 26 weeks, 28 weeks, 30 weeks.
“These are very high-risk of needing extreme premature births due to the degree of their infection.
He said there are also several women giving birth in hospital while their loved ones are at home sick with the virus.
“We have also looked after in the last few days women at 38 weeks who are giving birth in our hospital when their support persons and other children are at home, sick,” he said.
“They have been unable to come to hospital, we are using FaceTime, we are using all the digital technologies that we can to try to keep families together.
“But what we do know that keeps families together is vaccination.”
Over 200,000 pregnant women in the US and UK have had a Pfizer vaccination without any adverse reactions, meaning that “we know it is safe”, Dr Hodges said.
“It does not increase the risk of miscarriage, it does not increase the risk of abnormalities in your baby, or complications,” he said.
“It prevents severe disease, prevents you coming to Monash, it prevents you having to have your newborn into the Intensive Care Unit. It is safe.
“The immune protection response actually crosses the placenta to the baby and provides protection to the baby.
“For women who are breast feeding, the vaccination response – not the vaccination – crosses in breast milk to continue protection to the baby.
Of the Victorians who were hospitalised yesterday, 89 per cent were not vaccinated, with 11 per cent having had one dose.
There are now 2,793 active COVID-19 cases in the state, and all but four of those have been locally acquired.
Of those, the majority of patients are aged under 50.
More than 42,000 tests were conducted within the state yesterday and 143 people are being treated with COVID-19 in hospital.
Infections across construction sites continue to grow, Mr Foley said.
Lockdown over for millions
Meanwhile, millions in regional Victoria are enjoying their first weekend out of lockdown.
Shepparton is the only place which remains under lockdown rules.
Masks will continue to be required indoors and outdoors and gyms must stay closed.
And there are strict limits on numbers for pubs and restaurants in the regions.
Hospitality venues can welcome back just 10 patrons inside and 20 outdoors.
King of the Castle Cafe in Geelong is among venues full with bookings.
“We are so lucky we have space out the front and on our decks so we can use the outside space for walk-ins if the weather is kind for us,” owner Gemma told Today.
However she said some venues were sticking to take-away because of the remaining rules.
Publican David Strange said on Friday businesses are “disappointed” by the rule.
The caps will make it hard for people to make any profit, he said.
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“The business community is disappointed, we just would have liked more so we can run our businesses and employ people and serve the customers who want to come out of lockdown and get out of home,” Mr Strange told Today.
