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COVID-19 Vaccine Has Left Pregnant Women in a Dilemma!

Medicare

We’ve all waited for quite a long time to develop the COVID-19 vaccine, isn’t it? But now, when it has begun to roll out, one thing that’s become clear is that not everyone will have access to it right away. And even if the access becomes available, the vaccine itself might not be ideally suited to all kinds of people. For instance, in the case of pregnant and lactating women, how it will impact isn’t yet fully determined.

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Reuters | The clinical trials for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine hasn’t included pregnant women

Right now, pregnant women are in a dilemma regarding the vaccine. It’s because the clinical trials for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine haven’t included them, citing that the available data isn’t adequate to determine the risks posed to pregnancy. Now, while pregnant and lactating women have been excluded from the vaccination program in the UK, in the US, the decision to be vaccinated has been left up to the women.

Curious to know why the two countries have taken different paths? Let’s have a look. 

Read – How years of infertility prepared me for pregnancy during the Coronavirus crisis?

What does the data say, and why are there two thoughts?

Actually, so far, the data doesn’t say much. It can’t be said with a full determination whether or not the jab is risky for pregnant women. What can be said is that the data doesn’t reveal much.

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Reuters | The UK has adopted a more cautious path saying that they want to see more clinical data before finalizing the administration of the vaccination in pregnancy

Under the guidance of the US Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer has excluded pregnant and lactating women from the clinical trials. And according to experts, it is customary. 

Since no one cares more about the wellbeing of her offspring than an expecting mother, the first question pregnant women ask before taking any medication is, “will it be safe for my baby?” So considering the fact that a single shot would impact 2 beings at the same time, it won’t be a decent idea to put them at the beginning of the trials. And that’s the primary trigger pushing the two countries to evaluate the decision.

The UK has adopted a more cautious path regarding the whole issue, mentioning on its website that the agency wants to see more clinical data before finalizing the administration of the vaccination in pregnancy. On the other hand, with the view that there’s no scientific possibility of harm, the US has left the decision to pregnant and nursing women.

Read – Coronavirus vaccine side effects: Here’s what to expect, according to the CDC

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Getty Images | With the view that there’s no scientific possibility of harm, the US has left the decision to pregnant and nursing women

Summing it up

Yes, COVID-19 vaccine trials have happened at a breakneck speed, and that was the need of the hour as well. But it’s also true that no step has been skipped, and the vaccine has been approved only after being checked for safety and efficacy. 

Getting a Coronavirus vaccine in pregnancy can be complex and confusing. Your decision may depend on how likely you are to be exposed to the virus and whether or not you’re facing any pregnancy-related complications. But whatever you decide, you need to talk to a healthcare professional before you dismiss the vaccination completely.

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