Federal health chiefs have rewritten a Covid-19 vaccination pregnancy guide that bizarrely erases all mention of 'women' and replaces it with 'pregnant people'.
The guide was originally published in February as 'COVID-19 vaccination – Shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy'.
But it was republished last week under its new subtly-tweaked title: 'COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy'.
Some campaigning groups say using 'women' excludes non-binary or transgender people who may not identify as a woman but can still be pregnant or a mother.
The guide also stresses that anyone trying to become pregnant should not delay getting vaccinated and should not avoid getting pregnant if they have been vaccinated. (Pictured, women queue for a vaccine at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena)
Federal health chiefs have rewritten a Covid-19 vaccination pregnancy guide that bizarrely erases all mention of 'women' and replaces it with 'pregnant people'. The original title from February can be seen on the left with the new woke title pictured on the right
The document does not mention woman or women anywhere except in links to other websites or in the title of footnote references to other publications.
The word 'mother' is used just twice in the entire eight page booklet.
In all, more than 50 different mentions of women have been deleted from the original version and replaced by 'people' or 'those who are pregnant', sparking fury among some women.
Included in the changes are non-specific sentences like: 'Pregnant people are a priority group for Covid-19 vaccination' and 'Those who are pregnant have a higher risk of severe illness from Covid-19'.
In all, more than 50 different mentions of women have been deleted from the original version and replaced by 'people' or 'those who are pregnant'. (Pictured, a stock image of a pregnant woman being vaccinated against Covid-19)
Sky News commentator Rita Panahi blasted the rewrite as nonsense and added: ‘We cannot allow this craziness to be normalised.
'Women get pregnant - that shouldn't be a controversial statement.'
She accused the federal health department of 'buying into radical gender theory' with the rewrite.
'It's seeping in everywhere,' she added. 'It started in academia but now it's the Department of Health.'
Commercial litigator Caroline di Russo added: 'If you asked the everyday person in the street they would be pretty sure that only women could get pregnant.
'This here frankly is silliness, except that there's an undercurrent to it. It's dressed up like inclusivity and caring and whatever.
'But actually, it just has the effect of cancelling women.'
Commercial litigator Caroline di Russo said the removal of the word women in a guide to pregnancy had the effect of 'cancelling women'
The guide recommends Comirnaty - another name for the Pfizer vaccine - for all pregnant mothers-to-be at all stages of their pregnancy.
It also stresses that anyone trying to become pregnant should not delay getting vaccinated and should not avoid getting pregnant if they have been vaccinated.
The health department says the global rollout of the Pfizer vaccine has shown it is also safe for mothers who are breastfeeding.
And it recommends the AstraZeneca vaccine for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and anyone trying for a baby if Pfizer is unavailable and there is a greater risk of catching Covid.
The guide recommends Comirnaty - another name for the Pfizer vaccine - for all pregnant mothers-to-be at all stages of their pregnancy (pictured, a stock image of a pregnant woman)
The guide warns unvaccinated pregnant mothers have a higher chance of severe illness if they catch the disease and of their babies being born prematurely.
There is also evidence vaccination benefits may be indirectly passed on to children through breastfeeding or through the placenta, according to the guide.
The Health Department said the guide had been updated in line with new advice from ATAGI.
'The decision guide was updated and approved by the department,' a spokesman added.
The guide can be downloaded here.
