Moms, here’s what you need to know about the Covid-19 vaccine and pregnancy.
What can you read in this article?
- Covid-19 vaccine and pregnancy – is it safe?
- What are the protocols for Covid-19 and pregnant women?
- Can getting the vaccine to protect your unborn baby too?
The Covid-19 vaccination was developed in a record time and its rollout across the world has also happened at an impressive pace. While most countries are still in the process of vaccinating their citizens, the volatility of the virus continues to make it a looming concern.
Here in the Philippines, where the Covid-19 virus is spreading rapidly with reports of new, more dangerous variants affecting men, women, and children, getting the Covid-19 vaccine assures us of an added protection from the deadly disease.
This is exactly why the government encourages everyone who is eligible to get their jab as early as possible.
Among parents, one of the most relevant concerns about the vaccine is if it is safe to be administered during pregnancy. Since pregnant women are the ones that are considered at risk for this disease, they wanted to know if they can increase their immunity by getting vaccinated.
COVID vaccine during pregnancy is safe, says new data
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women can receive the Covid vaccine. While there has not been enough data before to discuss its side effects, new reports suggest that the safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy are growing.
The data suggest that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any potential risks during pregnancy.
The CDC also said that it found no safety concerns for expecting moms in either the new analysis or previous studies. The miscarriage rates after vaccination remain identical to the earlier rate.
This is the first time that the CDC based in the United States is actively recommending the vaccination for pregnant women. Previously, theY said that those wanting to take the vaccine should do so after consulting with their healthcare providers.
COVID vaccine during pregnancy is safe: No harmful effects
The CDC came to the conclusion after analysing early data from pregnant women who received Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. The report analysed data from three safety monitoring systems to gather information about Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
The early data did not find any safety concerns for vaccinated pregnant women or their babies.
Another report looked at pregnant women in the v-safe pregnancy registry in the United States who were vaccinated before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Here too, scientists did not find an increased risk for miscarriage.
CDC says it continues to monitor pregnant women who’ve received the vaccination during all trimesters of the pregnancy in a bid to better understand the effects on the mother and baby.
Speaking about the findings, Dr. Sascha Ellington, team lead for the Emergency Preparedness and Response team in CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health, said that vaccine uptake in pregnant women has been low. Only 23 percent of women in the US received just one vaccine dose.
“We want to increase that. We want women to be protected. We’re not seeing any safety signals and so the benefits of vaccination really do outweigh any potential or unknown risks,” she said.
The CDC is also working with obstetricians and gynecologists to become vaccine providers.
Study: 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine about 78 percent Effective
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According to an Israeli study released in July 2021 by JAMA, two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were 78 percent effective in preventing infection in pregnant women in Israel.
The researchers at Maccabi Healthcare Services in Tel Aviv analyzed over 15,000 expecting women that included 7530 vaccinated women and 7530 unvaccinated women. The study had women matched by age, gestational age, residential area, and the number of times they had given birth.
Covid Vaccine during pregnancy
The immunity of the mom decreases during pregnancy, which makes them susceptible to the Covid-19 infection. The CDC says that contracting the virus during pregnancy can increase the risk for preterm birth.
The body also objected on rumors about the vaccine limiting fertility in individuals.
“We are aware of the myths that have been spreading related to fertility. They are not based on any evidence. There’s no science that backs that up,” Dr Ellington said. “We hope this helps.”
The CDC recommends vaccinating everyone above the age of 12 years. This includes kids, adults, pregnant moms as well as those trying to get pregnant or are breastfeeding post-pregnancy.
While the fear around taking the vaccine is natural, it has only proven to make your immunity strong. There are mild side effects at the beginning but there haven’t been adverse effects reported so far.
Researchers also found out that vaccinated mums could transfer antibodies through breastfeeding to their babies after birth, helping protect the little ones.
“Based on what we know about other vaccines, we believe that the antibodies that mom produces will pass through the breast milk and may confer protection for the baby,” said Dr. Nicole Rankins, an OB-Gynecologist and the host of Lansinoh Clinical Advisory Network .
According to CDC, recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies.
READ MORE:
Why you shouldn’t have second thoughts on getting the COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women in the Philippines
According to the Resbakuna website of the Department of Health (DOH), pregnancy is not a contraindication of getting the Covid-19 vaccine. Therefore, pregnant women can get the vaccine with precaution.
A pregnancy test is not a requirement prior to getting a Covid-19 vaccine, however, it can be done for those women who are suspected to be pregnant. Because as a protocol, pregnant women are advised to have their vaccines after their third month of pregnancy to minimize the risks.
To date, the DOH approves the following Covid-19 vaccines for pregnant women and lactating mothers:
- Pfizer
- Moderna
- Sinovac
- AstraZeneca
- Johnson&Johnson
However, as an added precaution, it’s still best to consult your OB-Gynecologist before getting the vaccine to ensure that there will be no complications on your pregnancy.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
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