All you need to know about COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women

Though it’s been over a year, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose an immense challenge to the health and wellbeing of people across the globe. And it has been especially hard on expecting women. Though vaccination drives are going on in full swing this year, pregnant women and their families are still skeptical about the safety of taking the same. The side effects of the vaccines on the mother and child are a worry especially. So, if you too are expecting but don’t know if you should get vaccinated, here are a few important things to know. And don’t forget to get the best health insurance plan in India to stay prepared for emergencies.

Risk of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy

• According to experts, the overall risk of pregnant women getting infected by the deadly coronavirus is low.
• However, in case a pregnant woman gets infected, she can develop severe respiratory complications, and this can be fatal as well.
• Symptomatic patients are at a higher risk of severe diseases and death.
• Pregnant women who are overweight or have underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, are at a higher risk of severe illness.
• Studies also indicate that pregnant women with COVID-19 infection may have a caesarean and premature delivery. The likelihood of new-born babies getting admitted to a neonatal unit is also high.

Should pregnant women take the vaccine?

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), pregnant women should be vaccinated against COVID-19 when the benefits of taking the vaccine outweigh the potential risks. To make the assessment and arrive at a decision, pregnant women should know about the risks of COVID-19 during pregnancy and the benefits of vaccination. However, they must arrive at a decision knowing that the safety data regarding the effect of vaccines on pregnant women is limited. Here are some points to keep in mind:

• Most healthcare practitioners believe that taking the vaccine is important to stay safe from the virus. No risk to the foetus is known so far.
• Pregnant women need to visit high-risk places such as hospitals and laboratories often for check-ups. Hence, taking the vaccine will keep them protected against the virus.
• Dr Nupur Gupta, Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Gurugram’s Fortis Memorial Research Institute says, “We must note that we do not have trials for how the vaccines (Covishield and Covaxin) affect pregnant women. However, the data we have based on the other vaccines that are being administered world over indicate that the vaccines are safe”. Pregnant women across the world did not experience any serious side effects after taking the vaccines. Hence, they appear to be quite safe.

When should pregnant women take the vaccine?

According to the Health Ministry of India, it is safe for pregnant women to take the COVID-19 vaccine at any time during their pregnancy. However, Dr Nupur Gupta says, “I feel you can take it in your second trimester because by then the baby’s organs have also developed. Though it is not a live virus, I think the second trimester will be safe overall”. Also, any kind of risk is usually lower after the first trimester.

Which vaccines are safe for pregnant women?

As per the Health Ministry of India, pregnant women can take any COVID-19 vaccine available in the country. They can register on CoWIN and take the vaccine jab at the nearest government or private vaccination centre. Walk-in registrations are also possible.

However, pregnant women must discuss the same with their gynaecologists and take a decision accordingly.

What are the possible side effects of vaccination?

COVID-19 vaccines available in India appear to be safe for pregnant women and offer good protection against the novel coronavirus. However, like any other medicine or vaccine, these may also have mild side effects. Pregnant women may experience slight pain, mild fever, pain at the injection site, and weakness for 1-3 days.

In case you are wondering whether you should take the vaccine or not, you can consider the following and arrive at a decision:

• The benefits of vaccination
• Your risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as residing in a high-risk area or family members stepping out often for work
• Any underlying conditions, such as obesity or hypertension, that may cause severe illness in case of COVID-19 infection

What if a pregnant woman has had COVID already?

If a pregnant woman has been infected by the virus already, she can take the vaccine after about 12 weeks from infection or 8 weeks from recovery. In case a woman gets infected with the virus during pregnancy, she should take the vaccine soon after delivery.

Pregnant women with active COVID-19 infection or those treated with convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies should temporarily avoid taking the vaccine.

How will vaccine side effects be kept track of?

In case a pregnant woman experiences adverse side effects after vaccination, her pregnancy status should be recorded into the AEFI or Adverse Events Following Immunisation notification form. The adverse side effects she is facing should be reported to CoWIN. She should also visit a doctor immediately.

How does COVID-19 effect a pregnant woman and her baby?

Experts are still evaluating how the COVID-19 infection can affect a pregnant woman and her child. In some cases, pregnant women with COVID-19 delivered their babies early.

The virus is not found in breast milk or amniotic fluid. Hence, there isn’t much evidence if a pregnant woman with COVID-19 can pass on the infection to her baby during pregnancy or birth. However, there have been cases in which babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers tested positive for the virus.

As per healthcare professionals, the virus can infect a new-born. However, the child should not be kept away from the mother unless she is very sick. New mothers who are feeling well enough can wear a mask and feed the child. She should also wash her hands often and take necessary precautions.

Conclusion

Getting infected with the virus during pregnancy can be both stressful and dangerous. Hence, pregnant women must take good care of their health and avoid close contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms. Considering these uncertain times and the ever-increasing healthcare costs in India, taking health insurancecan also help. You can compare different plans online to find the best health insurance plan in india with maternity cover. Such a health Insurance plan will help meet medical costs related to childbirth and save you from financial burden.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.