KARACHI: While limited data is available on Covid-19 in pregnancy, the disease is causing various health problems among pregnant women who are not vaccinated against the infection in the country.
Hence, it’s important that they get vaccinated against the disease that puts them at a higher risk of not only developing complications, but also dying from it.
This was stated by experts at a webinar — ‘Pregnancy in Covid and importance of vaccine’ — organised by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in collaboration with American Society of Microbiology on Friday.
According to speakers, local data gathered at a limited scale in Pakistan showed that mortality rate due to Covid-19 complications in women affected during childbirth was eight per cent whereas studies in Iran have shown that women with Covid-19 have increased rates of premature births, stillbirth and Caesarean section.
Health complications, mortality risk higher in unvaccinated pregnant women with Covid-19
Each year in Pakistan, they said, over five million women become pregnant and of these 700,000 are likely to experience some obstetrical and medical complications.
“It is feared that the number of complications among pregnant women, who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19, will increase if they contracted the infection during childbirth,” said Dr Saeed Khan, DUHS professor of pathology.
Pregnant women didn’t need a prescription to be vaccinated at any facility in the country, he added.
Prof Nusrat Shah Kamal, pro vice chancellor at DUHS, said pregnant women were considered to be among the most vulnerable groups to have severe infection by Covid-19. Hence, it was imperative that they get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Pregnant women should get a Covid-19 vaccine jab on a priority basis as the vaccine has no adverse effects on the mother or the baby that will get the antibodies through mother’s milk,” she said.
Dr Nazli Hussain and Dr Rafat Jalil, both professors of obstetrics at DUHS, said there should be no ambiguity about the Covid-19 vaccine that could also be given to women undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment.
Women’s immunity, they pointed out, was weakened during pregnancy which could lead to
several diseases, including pneumonia and influenza. Before the pandemic, pregnant women were being given influenza and other vaccines.
Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2021
