COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnant & Breastfeeding People – A Cause of Concern

Breastfeeding and pregnant women have been kept sidelined from COVID-19 vaccine trials.
The world has faced and is still facing one of the worst pandemics where the number of deaths is in millions. Yes, you have got that right; we are talking about COVID-19 or the so-called Coronavirus. The pandemic has undoubtedly eaten a huge number of lives.

Though several countries have been able to prepare a vaccine against COVID including India that has been able to develop two vaccines, still the number of cases is increasing in several countries. Considering the seriousness of the condition, those countries have implemented lockdown again.

Now, when we talk about clinical trials of the COVID vaccine, then pregnant and breastfeeding women have been sidelined. The reason behind this is that there might be no studies conducted to confirm the safety of the vaccines for lactating and pregnant women. The vaccination is only recommended for lactating and pregnant women who are at high risk of Coronavirus infection. But this will also solely depend upon the individual whether she agrees to take the vaccine or not.
Considering this fact, we are sure that concerned medical professionals across the globe have also been studying that whether the vaccine developed is safe for lactating and pregnant women or not. It also won’t be wrong to say that there might be data available regarding the COVID vaccine for pregnant women, but this fact can also be not denied that the data available is very limited and no confirmed conclusion can be made based on that.

A vaccine available (AstraZeneca) uses an adenovirus vector and does not contain an infectious virus. This vaccine has been used for pregnant women, but luckily no harmful effects have been reported. But still, being in the trial phase we cannot conclude whether it is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women to get the COVID vaccine or not.

If we talk about the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://www.anitaguptagynaecologist.com/ , CDC, and others, then have recommended not excluding pregnant and lactating women from getting vaccinated, especially the ones who are willing to get vaccinated. Based on the working of mRNA and spike protein subunit in the vaccine, scientists believe that the vaccine is unlikely to pose any risk to pregnant women. Patients who are at extreme risk of getting a serious infection and have a high risk of SARS– COV–2 may get the most benefit if vaccinated.

So, we must suggest that the decision of taking Coronavirus vaccination by pregnant and breastfeeding women must be taken with proper consultation. Rest, we all are waiting for more data to get satisfied that the COVID vaccine is safe for lactating and expecting mothers.

Dr. Anita Gupta Gynaecologist
S-549, Greater Kailash part-2, New Delhi-110048
Anita Gupta

Dr. Anita Gupta has been practicing Gynaecology for more than three decades, treating patients with dedication and compassion. She did her M.B.B.S in 1984 and M.S in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 1987 from GSVM Medical College, Kanpur.

This release was published on openPR.