BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​Vaccinating a vulnerable population that is estimated to be trailing by a large margin when it comes to actually getting a dose.

The University at Buffalo hosted a panel Wednesday morning for local providers on how to reach more pregnant women and help them feel safe about receiving a coronavirus vaccine.

"People should be able to get this vaccine wherever they get their other vaccines," said Erie County Commissioner of Health Gale Burstein. "They go to their primary care provider, their OB/GYN, their pharmacy. The health department, we should not be giving these out. There's nothing different about this, it's just another vaccine."

In Western New York, fewer than 20% of pregnant women are believed to have been vaccinated.

The concern is the added complications pregnant women could face if they are unvaccinated.

The CDC has listed pregnancy as a medical conditions that can put some at higher risk of developing severe illness if they become infected with COVID-19.

In contrast, antibodies from a vaccine can show up in the umbilical cord blood and in the mother’s breast milk, which means a child may already be receiving protection from the virus.

Also, studies show the vaccine has no negative impact on couples who are trying to have children.