PREGNANT women are urged to get themselves vaccinated or get booster shots against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
This was what Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health Central Visayas chief pathologist, said after noting that a lot of Covid-19 cases currently admitted in hospitals are pregnant women.
Loreche said the unvaccinated women are about to give birth.
“We are waiting for them to deliver their babies, and hopefully there will be no complications,” she said.
Loreche said the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society has issued guidelines for the safe vaccination of pregnant women and lactating mothers.
She said pregnant women can get vaccinated beyond the 14th week of pregnancy to avoid complications.
First trimester
Loreche said they will not administer vaccines to pregnant women during the first trimester.
“Nagiging maingat din tayo. Hindi tayo nagbibigay ng kahit anong gamot (We are very careful. We don’t give any kind of medicine) during the first trimester because those are the formative days and weeks of a fetus inside a mommy’s womb,” Loreche said.
She further explained that they were aware that the first trimester is the time where the parts of the body such as brain, heart, and eyes are still developing. This is the reason why medical professionals do not want to compromise the growth of the fetus by not administering vaccine to pregnant women during this period.
Loreche, however, advised pregnant women who are not yet sure about getting their vaccine jabs to consult their obstetrician for guidance.