District health department Bokaro is gearing up for the vaccinations for pregnant women against COVID-19, following clearance given by ICMR.
“The State Government has given its nod for inoculating expectant mothers against coronavirus,” informed Dr NP Singh Nodal Officer COVID-19. A workshop was organised for smooth vaccination of pregnant women at the Sadar Hospital on Tuesday.
“We are also planning to organise separate vaccination camps at different locations in the district for the pregnant women,” added Singh.
According to the medical experts, COVID-19 can seriously affect the health of pregnant women. “It can get worse in women above 35 years of age, who are overweight, or who have co-morbidities like diabetes or blood pressure. It can also affect the health of the unborn child,” added the expert.
So it is therefore very important for pregnant women to get vaccinated. They can be administered with any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in the country, he said.
Three vaccines — Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V — have received approval for restricted use. A pregnant woman, who opts for vaccination, can be vaccinated at any time of pregnancy.
As per the guidelines, the pregnant women will be provided all information about the risks of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy and the benefits of vaccination along with the likely side effects of vaccines before inoculation.
Pregnant women can take the vaccine during any stage of the pregnancy. It will be even better if the women can get both doses of the vaccine while they are pregnant. However, if a woman gets COVID-19 while she is pregnant, she can take the vaccine only after childbirth, he said.
Civil Surgeon Ashok Kumar Pathak said, other precautions followed by anyone taking the vaccine are also applicable for pregnant women - as continuing to wear masks even after getting vaccinated, keeping hands clean and maintaining physical distance with others.
Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Kuldeep Choudhary appealed to people (eligible) who have not yet participated in the vaccination against Coronavirus, must go to his nearest center to get the vaccine earliest.
“This vaccine is completely safe. People must take the vaccine at their turn in a bid to make the vaccination campaign 100 per cent successful and to keep his family and people around him safe,” the DC added.