LIVE Q&A to Stream Thursday on Facebook and YouTube
Wake County Public Health’s community outreach continues Thursday, August 26, at 7 p.m., with the eighth in a series of live virtual town hall meetings. Local maternal health experts will answer questions about vaccine safety for pregnant people, those who want to become pregnant in the future and other concerns for expectant mothers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant people, anyone thinking about becoming pregnant or those breastfeeding get vaccinated against the coronavirus. As of July 31, only 23% of those who are pregnant had received at least one dose of vaccine against the coronavirus, according to CDC statistics. The percentage is even lower among Black and Hispanic/Latino women.
The panel of experts includes:
- Dr. Rasheeda Monroe, Medical Director of Primary Care Pediatrics at WakeMed;
- Dr. Carmen Beamon, Chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology department and Medical Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at WakeMed;
- Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson, board-certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist; and
- Dr. Nicole Mushonga, Associate Medical Director and Epidemiology Program Director of Wake County Health and Human Services.
“We’re excited to offer this opportunity for Wake County families to bring their questions about pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Matt Calabria. “It’s so important for anyone with concerns regarding the virus to have candid conversations with their healthcare providers. We appreciate these local medical professionals for joining with us to help answer any concerns."
The two leading organizations representing specialists in obstetric care – the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) – recently recommended that all pregnant individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19. The organizations’ recommendations in support of vaccination during pregnancy reflect evidence demonstrating the safe use of the COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, as well as the current low vaccination rates and concerning increase in cases.
Wake County Public Health will stream the informal discussion simultaneously via its virtual Town Hall Facebook and Town Hall YouTube events.
Click here to watch any episode of the “Ask the Doc” series, which has been offered in both English and Spanish. Wake County Public Health strongly encourages anyone 12 and older to get vaccinated. For more information on the COVID-19 and vaccine, visit WakeGov.com/COVID19.
