Amid the entry of the Omicron variant in the country, the government has intensified the vaccination program. In addition to health workers and the elderly, pregnant women are also at risk of being exposed to COVID-19, which can even impact pregnancy and the baby's health. Seeing that the number of pregnant women exposed to it is pretty high, the Indonesian Ministry of Health has now officially issued a recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women.
Choosing the type of COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women
Pregnant women have been reported to have a higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus than women who are not pregnant. This phenomenon can increase the risk of premature birth, miscarriage, and death.
Vaccination during pregnancy aims to prevent maternal morbidity and protect the fetus from infectious diseases before primary immunization can be completed. Vaccination can be done at the start of the 13th week of pregnancy. Based on a circular from the Ministry of Health, the types of vaccines that can be used for pregnant women are:
- Pfizer
- Moderna
- Sinovac
Maybe while reading this article, you are still confused about the different effects of the three types of vaccines. Please note that there are different types where the Sinovac vaccine contains inactivated virus, while Moderna and Pfizer contain mRNA. In general, vaccines containing inactivated viruses have been used for more than 50 years in pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers without causing harmful side effects so the Sinovac vaccine can be said to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Unlike Sinovac, Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines do not contain viruses. This vaccine is made using the mRNA method where the vaccine is designed to resemble the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which can later trigger an immune reaction. Therefore, this mRNA vaccine is known to be safer for the fetus because the vaccine will not cross the placenta. However, antibodies formed in the mother's body can still be transferred through the placenta.
The benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the risks. There is also no evidence that any vaccine, including the COVID-19 vaccine, causes fertility problems in women or men.
In addition, given the data on the Delta variant, which spreads quickly and increases the risk of pregnant women being infected, it seems that vaccination for pregnant women is becoming more urgent. Especially with the presence of the new Omicron variant in the country. So far, no pregnant women have reported different side effects than the general public vaccinated against COVID-19 mRNAs, such as the Modern and Pfizer vaccines. However, if you feel a fever after vaccination, you should immediately take paracetamol to prevent adverse pregnancy conditions.
Vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy is a good step to prevent transmission of infection and maintain good health for both mother and baby. Keep discussing with your doctor before you choose which vaccine to use. The doctor will give appropriate advice according to the conditions of the pregnancy. You can connect with doctors via chat in the Fitie application