Pregnant women in India now eligible for Covid-19 vaccination

Pregnant women in India are now eligible to get vaccinated against Covid19 with the union health ministry Friday giving the approval based on recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization NTAGIThe decision empowers pregnant women to make an informed choice on taking the Covid19 vaccination the ministry said adding these women can now register on CoWIN or walkin to the nearest Covid19 vaccination centre to get themselves inoculatedThe decision has been communicated to all the states and union territories to implement it under the ongoing National Covid19 Vaccination Program it said in a statementIndias Covid19 vaccination program incorporates recommendations of the foremost experts in the field of immunization public health disease control and information technologyBased on scientific and epidemiological evidence the programme gives priority to strengthening the countrys healthcare system by protecting the professionals health and frontline workers manning it as well as protecting the most vulnerable population groups the ministry saidTill now all groups except pregnant women were eligible for Covid19 vaccination Now it is expanded to even pregnant women in the worlds largest immunization drive the statement saidStudies have shown that Covid19 infection during pregnancy may result in rapid deterioration of health of pregnant women and they are at an increased risk of severe diseases and it might affect fetus too it saidThe matter has been examined by domain knowledge experts based on the evidence that indicate that pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness from Covid19 compared to nonpregnant women in case they get infectedFurther pregnant women with Covid19 infection are at an increased risk for preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher chances of neonatal morbidity Additionally the experts have also highlighted preexisting comorbidities advanced maternal age and high body mass Index as factors for severe Covid19 in pregnancy the statement saidThe NTAGI has recommended vaccination for pregnant women The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid19 NEGVAC too has unanimously recommended it Further a national level consultation on Covid19 vaccination for pregnant women was also convened by the health ministry to build consensus on Covid19 vaccination of pregnant womenThe consultation unanimously welcomed the recommendation of NTAGI to vaccinate pregnant women The consultation included professional bodies like FOGSI representatives of state governments CSOs NGOs Development Partner agencies technical experts etcThe ministry has accepted these recommendations and prepared an operational guideline for vaccination of pregnant women counselling kit for medical officers and frontline workers and information education communication material for general public to equip the states and union territories to carry out the vaccination of pregnant womenPregnant women who opt for vaccination can be inoculated with Covid19 vaccines available in the country any time during their pregnancy at the nearest government or private vaccination centre after registration on CoWIN or by walkin registration at the nearest centre the statement saidThe procedures and modalities like registration generation of certificates after vaccination etc will remain the same as it is for any beneficiaries above 18 years of age under the Covid19 vaccination programme it saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever