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[UPDATE, 28 April]: After announcing that pregnant women can take COVID vaccine, CDC sought to clarify the statement made by their head, Dr Rochelle Walensky. In an email to CBS News, a CDC spokesperson said the agency’s stance is that guidance “has always been and remains CDC’s recommendation.”
The March guidance is much less stronger than the statement by Dr Walensky and says, “If you are pregnant, you may choose to receive a COVID-19 vaccine,” and “you may want to have a conversation with your healthcare provider.”
[27 April]: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised pregnant women to get their COVID vaccine shots. “CDC recommends that pregnant people receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” the head of the CDC, Dr Rochelle Walensky, stated in a press briefing,
With this recent announcement, expecting mums no longer have to wonder: is the covid vaccine safe for pregnancy? This green light is based on a fresh study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that notes that there isn’t evidence for safety concerns about pregnant women and infants.
Pregnant women can get COVID-19 vaccine, recommends CDC
Is The COVID Vaccine Safe For Pregnancy? Here’s What CDC Says
CDC has recommended pregnant women to take vaccines. Image courtesy: iStockphoto
The preliminary data from the largest study of coronavirus vaccine used among expectant mothers noted that Pfizer’s and Moderna’s jabs were safe for the women as well as their babies.
CDC scientists used self-reported data from over 35,691 women who were either pregnant or soon-to-be. The participants’ ages ranged from 16 to 54 years old. These women– post their shots– reported the usual vaccine side effects such as:
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Pain at the injection spot
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Fatigue
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Headache
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Muscle ache
“No safety concerns were observed for people vaccinated in the third trimester or safety concerns for their babies,” Dr. Walensky added.
Of the 827 participants who completed their pregnancy, rates of miscarriage were the same as rates observed before the pandemic. These findings are preliminary and covered just the first 11 weeks of the US vaccine rollout, from December 14 to February 28.
According to the researchers, “more longitudinal follow-up, including follow-up of large numbers of women vaccinated earlier in pregnancy, is necessary to inform maternal, pregnancy, and infant outcomes.”
Can Pregnant Women Get The Vaccine?
Due to less data, pregnant mums have been confused about taking vaccine. Image courtesy: Pixabay
Even though vaccination is a personal choice, pregnant women are at a higher spectrum of fatality risk. They are also more likely to be hospitalised when infected with COVID. In addition, the infection has been associated with an increased risk of pre-term birth, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
All these factors make vaccinations important to this demography.
Pharmaceutical companies did not include pregnant women in early efficacy and safety studies. But the evidence is mounting from recent studies that the vaccines are safe for them.
The latest result was an extension on research presented by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices a month ago. They also found no safety issues with the vaccine.
WHO & ACOG’s Stand On Vaccinating Pregnant Women
If questions like “Is the COVID vaccine safe for pregnancy?” still bother you, its advisable to consult your doctor and then proceed. But just for your information, while CDC has given a go-ahead to pregnant mums, here’s the stand taken by other health organisations.
- ACOG: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said coronavirus vaccines “should not be withheld from pregnant individuals.”
- WHO: While WHO said that only pregnant women at a high risk of contracting the virus or of having severe COVID-19 should be vaccinated.
Experts are hopeful that future studies may also provide more data on the safety of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in pregnancy, which was not addressed in the NEJM study.
Which Vaccines Are Allowed In Singapore?
Citizens of Singapore can reportedly choose between Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Meanwhile, the Health Sciences Authority is currently reviewing the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for use in Singapore.
According to reports, both the vaccines have similar efficacy rates, with Moderna’s being at 94 per cent and Pfizer’s at 95 per cent.
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There’s only one major difference between the two; Moderna requires two doses taken four weeks apart, while Pfizer requires two doses taken three weeks apart.
Can Pregnant Mums In Singapore Get The Jab?
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If you are in doubt, whether to take your vaccine shots, it is best to consult your doctor. Image courtesy: istockphoto
As COVID-19 vaccine campaigns rolled out across the island, many women are beginning to approach their doctors with questions like -is the covid vaccine safe for pregnancy? While, vaccination remains the best defence against COVID-19, the immediate benefit of vaccination depends on the local COVID-19 situation.
In Singapore, the current local transmission of the virus is extremely low. This means that the risk of a pregnant woman contracting the virus is also low.
But, if the risk of a surge in community transmissions increases sharply, then policies like vaccinate pregnant women immediately may get introduced.
Health authorities have been treading this path cautiously until more data becomes available. This has also left pregnant mums confused on whether they should get their jabs. So, when you have questions like-is the COVID vaccine safe for pregnancy, the best solution is to weigh the risks and benefits.
Plus, previous studies have proved that pregnant women should not receive live-virus vaccines. They may present a hypothetical risk to the foetus. Neither the Pfizer-BioNTech nor Moderna vaccine contain a live virus. But, till now nowhere has it been stated that it’s a 100% safe for pregnant women.
So, if you live in a region experiencing high rates of infection. Or you may be in a country that may face a surge due to low levels of immunity in the population, vaccination is the only choice.
Either way, don’t let your guard down. Wear masks, maintain social distancing and avoid crowds.
Disclaimer: It is advisable to follow CDC and WHO guidelines on all developments related to COVID-19
News source: CNBC, Channel News Asia
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