Fauci tells military families vaccine safety good

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert told military families that the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines is "really quite good."

During a virtual webinar discussion Thursday on the vaccine rollout among the military family community and a Q&A session, Fauci promoted the need for all Americans to get the vaccine when they are eligible.

"The risk benefit ratio of safety is about as good as you could get with any medical intervention that you give to anyone. The safety record for this, even though it's just been one year, has been really quite good, he said.

The first lady of the United States, Jill Biden opened the discussion from the White House and called the need for military service members and their families to get the vaccine "a matter of national security."

The virtual townhall held by Blue Star Families and the American Red Cross, was on the safety, efficacy, and availability of coronavirus vaccines.

During the discussion on the vaccine rollout among the military family community, Fauci was asked about the safety for pregnant women to get vaccinated under emergency use authorization.

He said, "We're going to start tests in pregnant women literally now."

"They're starting, and we'll go into February and March."

Adding, "there have been about 10000 pregnant women out of the thirty-two million people or vaccinations that were given. And there have been no red flag signals."

Fauci said that in one vaccine trial, individuals as young as 16 years old and then down to 12 years old have been tested and in another, it was 18, but not below.

Fauci said you want to be confident that you're dealing with a safe and effective vaccine before you start trials in children, which have already begun and will be conducted over the next month or two.

According to a survey of military families, conducted by Blue Star Families, 53% of respondents do not plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine under emergency use authorization, while 58% of those with children under 18 years would not allow them to receive the vaccine.

(Image Credit: AP)