'Too late' vaccine guidance: MP wants follow-up for 'distressed' pregnant moms

 

The government must ensure medically safe follow-ups for pregnant mothers who have received Covid-19 vaccines other than that by Pfizer-Biontech, said Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

This was after the Special Committee On Covid-19 Vaccine Supply(JKJAV) said pregnant mothers should only take the Pfizer-Biontech vaccine as there was insufficient data on the safety of other vaccines such as Sinovac and AstraZeneca for this category of recipients.

However, the guidance came too late for some mothers who have already received other types of Covid-19 vaccines.

"While I welcome this clarification in view of the genuine fears and concerns shared by expectant and nursing mothers in relation to receiving Covid-19 vaccination, the announcement came too late and caused great distress among mothers who have received their AstraZeneca vaccination," said Yeoh.

Yeoh, the former women, family and community development deputy minister, noted that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine voluntary programme commenced on May 5 but JKJAV's advisory only came almost two weeks later.

The government had said it will consult experts before advising pregnant mothers who have already received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

For now, it is not yet clear if pregnant mothers who have received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine should stick with the same vaccine for the second dose.

Conventionally, recipients will be given the same type of vaccine for both doses.

However, recent research showed that an AstraZeneca first dose followed by a Pfizer-Biontech second dose was effective, although data for pregnant mothers remains limited.

"Provide medically safe follow-up measures in relation to their second dose without delay," she said.

Yeoh (above) said expectant and nursing mothers should also be clearly briefed on the risks involved.

She also called on the government to ensure that the Covid-19 injury fund be made available to pregnant mothers if they suffer side effects from the immunisation.

The fund promises compensation of between RM50,000 and RM500,000 if Covid-19 vaccine recipients have to be hospitalised or suffer permanent disability or death.

"The Perikatan Nasional government's default mode of 'do first, plan later' governance must be put to an end.

"They cannot treat vaccination announcements the same way they meddle with flip-flop SOPs.

"The stress of being infected with Covid-19 is excruciating for pregnant and nursing mothers, what more unimaginable the anxiety for having received an unsuitable vaccination," Yeoh said. - Mkini