Covid-19 vaccine recommended for at risk pregnant women and breastfeeding mums: Expert

Doha: Pregnant women who have chronic medical conditions that could further increase their risk for severe COVID-19 as well as those whose work puts them at increased risk for getting infected should consider taking the vaccine, advises Qatar’s National Health Strategy Lead for Healthy Women Leading to Healthy Pregnancies, Dr Najat Al Khenyab.

She says a pregnant woman who is part of an at risk group recommended to receive COVID-19 vaccine such as healthcare personnel may choose to be vaccinated and that the vaccine is also safe for women who are planning to become pregnant and those currently breastfeeding their babies. Meanwhile, Dr Al Khenyab notes that the vaccines have not yet been tested in on pregnant women. However, evidence from non-clinical studies of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine has been reviewed by the World Health Organization and the regulatory bodies in the USA, Canada and Europe and has raised no concerns about safety in pregnancy.