This information is accurate as of 23/6/2026. Please refer back to the website to ensure all reference information is current and up-to-date.

COVID-19 Podcast: Mums, kids and the vaccine

Francesca is an accredited Nurse Immuniser and experienced paediatric registered nurse. She’s been working with SAFEVIC (MCRI) as a Research Nurse since 2018 and hold the position of Nurse Immuniser with a local council.

Francesca spoke with Janet Michelmore from the Jean Hailes for Women’s health regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for women, children and fertility and offered some of her top tips for managing kids’ needle phobia.

PRESENTER

FRANCESCA MACHINGAIFA

BNurs, (Hons), PGDipN, (Paediatrics)
Education Nurse Coordinator, MVEC

Francesca is an accredited Nurse Immuniser and experienced paediatric Registered Nurse. She has been working with SAEFVIC (MCRI) as a Research Nurse since 2018 and holds the position of a Nurse Immuniser with a local council. Francesca also works in a private paediatric travel clinic and is passionate about immunisation research, education and surveillance.

MVEC acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we live, work and educate. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
We are committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas.

About MVEC

The Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre (MVEC) is an educational website, developed with the aim of providing up-to-date immunisation information for both healthcare professionals and members of the public. We are based at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), a research organisation, and are affiliated with SAEFVIC (Surveillance of Adverse Events Following Vaccination in the Community), the Victorian Vaccine Safety Service.

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