The government announced the third phase vaccination for adults between 18 and 44 years which from May 1, 2021. One question that continues to bother young females is it safe to get Covid- 19 vaccine during pregnancy.
It is to be noted that the risk of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy is low, however, the chances for COVID-related illnesses are high compared to the non-pregnant group of women.
According to a study, “The placenta is like the black box in an airplane. If something goes wrong with a pregnancy, we usually see changes in the placenta that can help us figure out what happened,” said corresponding author Dr. Jeffery Goldstein, assistant professor of pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine pathologist. “From what we can tell, the COVID vaccine does not damage the placenta.”
The Placenta: It’s Role in the Immune System
The placenta is the first organ that forms during pregnancy. It performs duties for most of the fetus’ organs while they’re still forming, such as providing oxygen while the lungs develop and nutrition while the gut is forming.
Also, the placenta manages hormones and the immune system, and tells the mother’s body to welcome and nurture the fetus rather than reject it as a foreign intruder.
“The Internet has amplified a concern that the vaccine might trigger an immunological response that causes the mother to reject the fetus,” Goldstein said. “But these findings lead us to believe that doesn’t happen.”
The scientists also looked for abnormal blood flow between the mother and fetus and problems with fetal blood flow — both of which have been reported in pregnant patients who have tested positive for COVID.
Though pregnant women are going for vaccination in the US, the MoHFW and the Indian government have recommended that the pregnant and lactating women should avoid the COVID-19 vaccination as of now as so far, no clinical trials have been done.
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has asked women to make an informed decision regarding the COVID-19 vaccination.
Can Breast-feeding Females take Vaccination?
They can go for vaccination if they fall under the high-risk group and if they are health care workers. However, the government of India has not yet recommended COVID-19 vaccination for the lactating mothers.
Will the vaccine cause infertility or damage to the placenta?
There is also no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine would reduce your natural fertility or harm the placenta or fetus. While the COVID-19 vaccine is new, the mechanism of action of this mRNA vaccine and existing safety data provide reassurance regarding the safety of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines during pregnancy.
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