The clinical trials of the Covid-19 vaccines did not include pregnant women, therefore, the recommendation so far is to assess the risks and benefits in each case. Many pregnant women have decided to get vaccinated because they have a higher risk of complications or because they are exposed to a high risk of contagion, such as health workers, police officers, teachers or nursing home workers.
But for the first time, the Ministry of Health of the Government of Spain proposes in its new version of the National Vaccination Strategy against Covid-19 to vaccinate pregnant or lactating mothers “with mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) when it corresponds to them according to the prioritization group to which they belong ”.
“Since the Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Moderna vaccines have been studied more in pregnant women, their use preference is recommended.” This is reflected in the draft of the document studied by the Public Health Commission with the autonomous communities, the full text of which includes Medical Writing. This opens the door for the first time to the immunization of pregnant women in Spain.
Safe vaccine in pregnant women
Other countries that are at the forefront of vaccination, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, recommend vaccinating pregnant women with Pfizer and Moderna, the vaccines made with messenger RNA, since “they do not indicate any adverse effect on pregnancy.”
The preliminary results of the largest study to date, based on data from 35,000 pregnant women who received the messenger RNA vaccines, conclude that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against Covid-19 are effective in pregnant and lactating women , and that in addition they Pregnant women can transmit protective antibodies to their babies.
They even found that antibody levels were “strikingly higher” in vaccinated pregnant women than in those who had passed the disease while pregnant.
On the other hand, it has been known that pregnant women have a 50 percent higher risk of complications if they are infected. That is, the possibility of suffering an effect from the vaccine is minimal compared to the problems that the disease could cause. Therefore, it is being recommended that pregnant women begin to be vaccinated.
When can they be vaccinated?
Currently pregnant women can be vaccinated in Spain if they work on the front line and have a higher risk of contagion, or if they have diseases such as pre-pregnancy diabetes, maternal heart disease, severe respiratory conditions, high blood pressure or immunosuppression. It is recommended to consult your doctor beforehand and assess the risks and benefits in each case.
In addition to these especially vulnerable groups, if the new strategy is approved as planned, the rest of pregnant and lactating mothers will be able to be vaccinated very soon, depending on the group to which they belong.
The newspaper El Español ventures to give a date, and ensures that the immunization of this group could begin this month of May.
In Babies and more | Pregnant women with Covid have a 50 percent higher risk of complications
