The Union Health Ministry accepted the recommendation of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) to allow pregnant women to make an “informed choice” on taking the vaccine. The decision followed national-level consultations “to build consensus on Covid vaccination of pregnant women”, the Ministry said.

The Ministry had said on May 19 that vaccination was recommended for lactating women. Whether pregnant women could be vaccinated was under deliberation by NTAGI, it had said at the time. On Friday, the Ministry said: “The consultation unanimously welcomed the recommendation of NTAGI to vaccinate pregnant women.

The consultation included professional bodies like FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India), representatives of State Governments, CSOs (civil society organisations), NGOs, Development Partner agencies, and technical experts.” “The decision has been communicated to all the States to implement it under the ongoing National Covid Vaccination Program… Pregnant women may now register on CoWIN or walk in to the nearest COVID Vaccination Centre (CVC) to get themselves vaccinated,” it said.

The Ministry said studies have shown that getting infected with the coronavirus while pregnant “may result in rapid deterioration of health” of women, and might put them at an “increased risk of severe diseases and…might affect foetus too”. “The matter has been examined by domain knowledge experts based on the evidence that indicate that pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19 compared to non-pregnant women in case they get infected.

Further, pregnant women with Covid-19 infection are at an increased risk for preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, including higher chances of neonatal morbidity,” the Ministry said. It said that the expert group had underlined that “pre-existing co-morbidities, advanced maternal age, and high body mass index” were risk factors for severe Covid during pregnancy.

News Source : Economic Times