The Union Health Ministry has issued new guidelines for administering the COVID-19 vaccine to pregnant women, stating that pregnancy does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection. As a result, the Union Ministry has advised all pregnant women to register on the Co-WIN portal or to register on-site at the COVID-19 vaccination centre.
The registration process for pregnant women is the same as it is for the general population, and it is in accordance with the most recent guidance provided by the Union Health Ministry from time to time.
Most pregnant women will be asymptomatic or have a mild disease, but their health may deteriorate quickly, affecting the foetus as well. It is critical that they take all precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19, including receiving COVID-19 vaccination.
Women at high risk include those who are a health care worker or a frontline worker; live in a community with a high or increasing rate of COVID-19 infections; are frequently exposed to people outside the household; and have difficulty complying with social distancing if they live in a crowded household.
If a pregnant woman becomes infected with the virus, while the vast majority (90%) recover without the need for hospitalisation, rapid deterioration in health may occur in a few.
Pregnant women who are symptomatic appear to be at an increased risk of severe disease and death.
Pregnant women, like all other patients, will require hospitalisation if they develop a severe disease.
Pregnant women with underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure or obesity, or who are over the age of 35, are at a higher risk of severe illness as a result of COVID-19.
The majority (over 95%) of newborns born to COVID-19 positive mothers were in good health. COVID-19 infections during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of a premature birth, the baby's weight being less than 2.5 kg, and, in rare cases, the baby dying before birth.
Women over the age of 35, obese women, women with a pre-existing illness such as diabetes or high blood pressure, and women with a history of limb clotting are at a higher risk of developing complications after COVID-19 infection.
If a woman was infected with COVID-19 during her current pregnancy, she should be vaccinated as soon as possible after giving birth.
Furthermore, the ministry stated that the COVID-19 vaccines on the market are safe and that vaccination protects pregnant women from COVID-19 illness/disease.
A vaccine, like any medicine, may cause side effects, which are usually minor. She may develop a mild fever, pain at the injection site, or feel ill for 1-3 days after receiving the vaccine injection.
The vaccine's long-term adverse effects and safety for the foetus and child have yet to be established.
