The Covid-19 vaccination was developed in a record time, and its rollout worldwide has also happened at an impressive pace. While most countries are still vaccinating their citizens, the volatility of the virus continues to make it a looming concern.
That’s why you should get your jab at the earliest whilst maintaining all the necessary social distancing precautions.
However, there has also been conjecture about administering the vaccine to pregnant women. With fewer tests done of the vaccine on expecting mums, there wasn’t enough data to suggest if it was safe enough.
But now, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that it is safe enough for expecting women to get the shot.
COVID & Pregnancy
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women should take precautions against COVID-19.
If you are pregnant, watch the news and follow public health messages. You may be advised to stay indoors or avoid crowded places if there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your area.
If you develop symptoms, or are exposed to someone who develops symptoms, see your doctor or go to a hospital immediately. Your baby’s health depends on it!
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible if they are not immune to the virus. This is because getting a vaccine during pregnancy can protect you and others around you from getting very sick from COVID-19.
If you’re planning on becoming pregnant soon or already pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether or not getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is right for you.
The CDC recommends that all six months and older be vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes pregnant people, those breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or those who might become pregnant in the future.
The best way to protect yourself and your baby is to get vaccinated before pregnancy. But if you’re already pregnant, it’s still important that you get vaccinated as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure if you’ve been vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she will know what’s best for you and your baby during this time.
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COVID Vaccine During Pregnancy Is Safe, Says New Data
Based on a new analysis, the CDC suggests that the safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy is growing. The data suggest that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh potential pregnancy risks. The CDC also found no safety concerns for expecting mums in the new analysis or previous studies.
The miscarriage rates after vaccination remain identical to the earlier rate. Pregnant mums can take any of the three vaccines available – Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson. This is the first time the US CDC actively recommends vaccination for pregnant women.
Previously, the centre had said that those wanting to take the vaccine should do so after consulting with their healthcare providers.
Is COVID Vaccine for Pregnant Women Safe
There is evidence that COVID-19 vaccination before and during pregnancy is safe, effective, and beneficial to both the pregnant person and the baby.
Vaccinating pregnant people against COVID-19 can help prevent the disease from spreading to unborn babies, who are too young to receive the vaccine themselves. Vaccination also helps protect these babies from becoming infected after they’re born.
In addition to preventing infections in newborns, vaccinating pregnant people can help protect them against certain complications of COVID-19 infection, such as pneumonia or bacterial infections like sepsis (a severe infection of the bloodstream).
The World Health Organization recommends that all women planning on getting pregnant should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
CDC released this summary of the growing evidence:
- COVID-19 vaccines do not cause COVID-19, including in people who are pregnant or their babies.
- Data on the safety of receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech), before and during pregnancy are reassuring.
- Data show that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy reduces the risk of severe illness and other health effects from COVID-19 for pregnant people.
- Vaccination during pregnancy builds antibodies that can help protect the baby.
- No safety concerns were found in animal studies.
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COVID Vaccine During Pregnancy: No Harmful Effects
The CDC concluded 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 found no safety concerns for vaccinated pregnant women or their babies.
Another report looked at pregnant women in the v-safe pregnancy registry who were vaccinated before 20 weeks. 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 to better understand the effects on the mum 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 per cent 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 gynaecologists to become vaccine providers.
2 Doses Of Pfizer Vaccine About 78 Per Cent Effective: Study
An Israeli study released in July 2021 by JAMA also backs this up. The study concluded that two doses of Pfizer’s vaccine were 78 per cent effective in preventing infection in pregnant women in Israel.
The researchers at Maccabi Healthcare Services in Tel Aviv analysed over 15,000 expecting women, including 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.
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Can Pregnant Women Take COVID Vaccine
The immunity of the mum decreases during pregnancy, which makes them susceptible to the Covid-19 infection. The CDC says contracting the virus during pregnancy can increase the risk of preterm birth.
The body also denounced rumours about the vaccine curbing fertility in individuals.
“We are aware of the myths that have been spreading related to fertility. They are not based on any evidence. No science backs that up,” Dr Ellington said. “We hope this helps.”
The CDC recommends vaccinating everyone above the age of 7 years. This includes kids, adults, pregnant mums, and those trying to get pregnant or are breastfeeding post-pregnancy.
While the fear of taking the vaccine is natural, it has only strengthened your immunity. There are mild side effects at the beginning, but there haven’t been adverse effects reported so far.
Researchers also found that vaccinated mums could transfer antibodies through breastfeeding to their babies after birth, helping protect the little ones.
Does COVID Vaccine Affect Future Pregnancy
It’s a question that many people are asking: does COVID vaccine affect future pregnancy? The answer is yes and no.
Yes, it does. If you have received the vaccine, it has almost certainly affected your immune system in some way. If you become pregnant, your body may be less able to protect itself from infections normally fought off by the immune system.
However, it does not mean you can never get pregnant again. With proper care of your body and the baby growing inside, nothing stops you from getting pregnant again. That’s after receiving the COVID vaccine.
Before you start planning for your next pregnancy, make sure to talk with your doctor about any concerns or questions that you may have about COVID vaccination and its effects on future pregnancy plans.
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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