SOUTHWEST, Fla. — Kenzia Orama is expecting her first child.
At just more than six months pregnant while in a pandemic, she’s carefully planning on how she will keep both her and her new baby boy safe.
Orama says that’s why she’s chosen to not get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I feel like there just hasn’t been enough studies to know the long-term effects of this vaccine”, she says.
Orama’s one of 13 local, pregnant moms sharing their perspective with FOX 4 on Thursday.
All say they do not plan to get the vaccine while pregnant.
Kendra Weaver of Fort Myers is expecting her second child.
Her reason for choosing not to vaccinate during this time is the same for most of the moms we talked to on Thursday: she says more research needs to be done.
“There’s just not enough information for me to feel safe enough that it’s not going to harm my child,” Weaver says.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says the mRna vaccine has not been tested on pregnant women.
That’s the reason for the lack of data.
This week, the World Health Organization issued new Covid-19 recommendations, including pregnancy guidelines.
The WHO says pregnant women should not get the Moderna vaccine, unless they’re at high risk for exposure (i.e. healthcare workers, etc.).
That guidelines differs from the C-D-C which has said pregnant women “may choose to get vaccinated” and should talk to their doctor.
Robert Hawkes is the director of the Physician Assistant Program at Florida Gulf Coast University.
“The CDC doesn’t recommend that you don’t take it. It’s just that you understand that it’s greater risk, and that you follow up with your healthcare provider to determine if that’s something for them.”
Hawkes says the best plan is to talk to your doctor, and remember that it's completely your choice.
“Talk to them. Have them understand your feelings…your concerns…and then make the best decision for you.”
The CDC says it plans to study people who are pregnant.
The center also says both vaccine markers are monitoring clinical trials of people who became pregnant.
