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NCIRS statement on falsified court transcript being shared on social media

We are aware of misinformation being shared online and on social media platforms regarding NCIRS Director Professor Kristine Macartney’s recent appearance as an expert witness in a case before the Supreme Court of New South Wales. A falsified court transcript has been shared that misrepresents the responses Professor Macartney provided to a series of questions.

The responses in these online articles and posts attributed to Professor Macartney are fabricated. They do not reflect what Professor Macartney said, the official court transcript, expert opinion or fact.

We encourage you to rely on reputable sources of information to help you make informed choices and stay up to date on the latest information about COVID-19 vaccines. If you see misinformation relating to Professor Macartney, you can report this on the social media channels it appears on.

Further accurate information can be found below:

Vaccinated people are less likely to spread COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to provide strong protection from COVID-19 and reduce transmission to others. Clinical trials and dozens of real-world studies from vaccination programs in many countries show strong protection from COVID-19 from the vaccines in use in Australia. These studies were conducted at the time the Delta variant was dominant. For further information, see the NCIRS COVID-19 FAQ and visit health.gov.au.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women and those looking to become pregnant

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are now routinely recommended for pregnant women, and pregnant women are a priority population for vaccination. This is a joint recommendation from the Australian Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).

More information is available in the COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.

Vaccines have been studied for both efficacy and safety

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to provide strong protection from COVID-19, particularly severe disease, and have a very good safety record. COVID-19 vaccine safety has been, and continues to be, closely monitored. For more information, visit health.gov.au and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and AusVaxSafety websites.