THE Department of Health-Davao Region (DOH-Davao) encouraged breastfeeding mothers to be inoculated and transfer the benefit of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine to their babies.
Dr. Raquel Montejo, DOH-Davao Local Health Support Division chief, said in a virtual presser that nursing mothers who received a Covid-19 vaccine can develop antibodies and may pass it on to their babies through their breastfeeding.
Montejo emphasized the importance of mothers getting vaccinated to protect their babies, who are considered vulnerable to the disease.
“Importante po 'yun. Although may threat tayo sa Covid-19, importante pa rin, the best way of preventing sa ating other diseases is breastfeeding, hindi lang sa Covid[-19],” Montejo said.
(It is important. One of the best ways we can prevent our babies from getting sick is through breastfeeding.)
The health official said breastfeeding mothers who are symptomatic can still breastfeed their babies as long as they will wear face masks and face shields.
She said vaccines are also safe for pregnant women. However, they must be vaccinated in their second or third trimester.
The DOH, in a Philippine News Agency report, said they noticed a decrease in breastfeeding during the pandemic as mothers who tested positive for coronavirus ceased giving breast milk for fear of transmission of the virus to their babies.
DOH Department Circular 2021-0297 advocated the giving of breast milk during the first 1,000 days of babies.
The national government declared August as National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and August 1 to 7 as World Breastfeeding Week.
The Philippine Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Pidsog) also recommended Covid-19 vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
"The currently approved vaccines protect against severe and critical Covid[-19] infection. While there are limited safety data on Covid[-19] vaccines in pregnancy, the benefits far outweigh the risk," Pidsog said in a Facebook post.
The group also said Covid-19 infection in pregnancy has increased risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension, infections requiring antibiotics, and intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation.
This also includes longer hospital stay, cesarean delivery, and premature birth, intrauterine fetal deaths and neonatal deaths.
Pidsog also said any of the Emergency Use Authorization-approved Covid-19 vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration can be administered to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The group said the vaccine is preferably given from 14 weeks age of gestation onwards.
It may be given in the first trimester if at high risk for acquiring Covid-19 infection.
However, women should be consulted on the benefits of vaccination as well as the common side effects of the vaccines.
They should continue breastfeeding after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine, the group said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had also urged all pregnant women to get the Covid-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the United States see disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus.
However, this is contrary to the statement of Davao Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser.
“Based sa guidelines nato, we do not give vaccines sa mga buntis o sa mga plano magbuntis (to pregnant women, or those planning to get pregnant),” Schlosser said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
Although she has yet to confirm it, vaccination against Covid-19 for pregnant women remains to be not advisable.
“From the last orientation sa vaccination, we discourage the vaccines sa atong mga buntis ug sa mga plano nga magpabuntis. (to pregnant women and those planning to get pregnant.) But then pag naay bag-ong guidelines na mugawas gikan sa DOH (if DOH will be releasing a new set of guidelines), then again we will follow that,” Schlosser said.