WHO reported an increased risk of severe COVID-19 in pregnant women

Pregnancy is categorized as a health condition with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 and vaccination is recommended, and nursing mothers can continue to feed their babies even after vaccination, according to updated recommendations from the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) published Monday.

The experts decided, in particular, to prioritize pregnant women for vaccination. According to WHO, expectant mothers deserve special attention because the potential benefits and risks of vaccination not only relate to their health, but also to that of their future children.

This group has previously been neglected in the testing and distribution of vaccines. However, evidence suggests that pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of severe disease than non-pregnant women of reproductive age.

According to published data, studies have been conducted on pregnant animals for all vaccines currently on the WHO list for emergency use, and no harmful effects of the vaccines on maternal or fetal health have been reported.

“Consistent with other health conditions that put people at increased risk (of severe COVID-19 – ed.), pregnant women are now assigned to Phase II epidemiologic scenarios of the SAGE prioritization roadmap, particularly older pregnant women (35 years and older – ed.) and women with comorbidities,” the Strategic Advisory Group said in a statement.

Experts also noted that some short-term studies have suggested that there is no risk to infants from COVID-19 vaccination of breastfeeding mothers. Initial limited evidence suggests that protection from the vaccine may be transmitted from mother to child in such a case. WHO does not recommend stopping breastfeeding because of the vaccination.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)