PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday recorded three coronavirus-related deaths and 64 new cases as the provincial chapter of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Pakistan launched a drive to vaccinate pregnant and lactating women against Covid-19.

It was the first drive to create demand for the Covid-19 vaccine shots among pregnant and lactating women.

The society also organised a seminar at the Khyber Teaching Hospital here to scale up public awareness of vaccination of pregnant and lactating women.

The gynaecologists, who attended the event, insisted that many women avoided inoculation over the misconception that it was harmful to them.

Vaccination drive for expectant mothers launched

SOGP member and gynaecologist Prof Jamila Naib said Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were strongly recommended for pregnant women and lactating mothers, who were at a higher risk of being infected with coronavirus than healthy people.

“All childbearing women should get themselves vaccinated against the virus at the earliest to stay safe,” she said.

The gynaecologist said the campaign sought to provide Covid-19 vaccine jabs to all women visiting hospitals and to protect both pregnant women and their coming babies from the virus.

“In case women get the virus after five months of pregnancy, not only they but their children, too, are at risk of being infected,” she warned.

Prof Jamila said the society had set up a separate filter clinic for pregnant women at the hospital, where visitors would be convinced about vaccination.

She said there was no harm of vaccination as no side effect had so far been recorded, which showed that these were safe for all the population.

“We should prevail upon the pregnant women to get themselves inoculated as it is more useful for them and their babies. Those not getting vaccine shots are putting their lives at the razor’s edge,” she said.

Prof Rehana Rahim of the Lady Reading Hospital, who was also in attendance, asked the people to come forward and get the Covid-19 vaccine free of charge at the centres established by the government in all districts.

She also urged doctors to fulfil their professional responsibilities by persuading women to receive vaccine shots for own protection against Covid-19.

Prof Naeema Utman of the Hayatabad Medical Complex said vaccination was a blessing as it prevented the people from the deadly infection.

She said The people should be informed about the benefits of not only getting vaccines but also adherence to the social distancing rules, handing washing and wearing face masks, she said.

Prof Sidra Jabbar Khan of the North West General Hospital said the coronavirus vaccine was very important for pregnant women as the immunisation had showed that the immunised people were not exposed to the virus like unvaccinated ones.

Meanwhile, a health department report revealed that the coronavirus deaths and cases reported in the province totalled 5,689 and 176,950, respectively.

According to it, of the infected people, 168,185 (94 per cent), including 98 during the last 24 hours, recovered from the virus. The province has 3,076 active Covid-19 cases.

The department said two of the new deaths from coronavirus were reported in Mardan and one in Peshawar.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Peshawar Khalid Mahmood inaugurated the second centre of Covid-19 vaccination in the Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Teaching Hospital to cater to the growing immunisation demand.

On the occasion, he was informed that the hospital, which previously administered vaccine jabs to 500 people daily, would vaccinate 1,000 people in a day.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2021