Pregnant women can be considered for vaccine, subject to medical advice - Adham

 

COVID-19 | Women who are pregnant will be permitted to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, subject to a risk assessment performed by their healthcare consultant, said Health Minister Dr Adham Baba today. 

He said similar risk assessments can also be applied by breastfeeding mothers or women who are trying to conceive.

"Administration of Covid-19 vaccine can be considered if the benefit of vaccination outweighs any risks to the recipient or the foetus.

"Covid-19 vaccination while pregnant can also be considered if there is a high risk of unavoidable exposure," said Adham during a joint press conference in Putrajaya with Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The co-chairperson of the Special Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Committee added that frontliners who are pregnant would fall under such a category of eligible recipients.

Adham's comments are in line with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) updated advice on pregnant women receiving the vaccine, stating only those who are at high risk of contracting Covid-19 through work or who have underlying health conditions which predispose them to develop complications from the virus, should take the vaccine.

On the other hand, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reportedly said that the vaccines should be available to those who are pregnant but ultimately leaves the decision up to expectant parents and their doctors.

[More to follow] - Mkini