OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Jennifer Griswold joined Dr. Emily Patel from Methodist Health System to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine and its safety and efficacy for pregnant mothers.
At this point, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are allowed to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S., but since these women have not been included in trials, the CDC has not formally recommended it. Instead, they are advising women to have a conversation with their doctor and make a shared decision.
Watch below or on our Facebook page.
Dr. Patel said not vaccinating women could cause more risk of maternal or fetal harm. She said women who are pregnant and get COVID-19 are three times more likely to be hospitalized.
She added, "We don't have any reason to think that pregnant women would be any different with their response, and we do have reason to believe they're going to produce antibodies and have equal protection."
Patel reminded us that this vaccine does not contain live virus.
She recommended that women consider these factors with their doctors when determining whether to get the COVID-19 vaccine:
- the local spread in your community
- the risk in your workplace
- any comorbidities
- gestational age
You can find more resources on the topic through the CDC, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
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