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Pregnant women with COVID-19 have a probability of premature birth

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR | Pregnant women should consider getting vaccinated against COVID-19. (Picture/EFE)

VACCINES AVAILABLE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado

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Pregnant women are facing a crucial decision amid the respiratory virus season and the presence of new and aggressive variants of the COVID virus. The question they ask themselves is: should I get vaccinated against COVID or not? Tola Obi Wali, a pharmacist, offers valuable insight on this issue.

According to Obi Wali, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is essential to protect both the mother and the unborn baby. “The current variants of COVID circulating in the U.S. are highly contagious. Contracting this virus, which can be highly probable, can cause severe illness in a short period. This is a concerning risk especially for pregnant women,” said Wali.

This expert doesn’t hesitate to affirm, “she invites pregnant women to consider getting the vaccine. Vaccination is vital to safeguard the health of both the pregnant individual and the unborn child in many cases.” Wali is aware of the common concern among pregnant women regarding the safety of the vaccine. However, Wali assures that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, even during pregnancy.

COVID-19 VACCINE | Tola Obi Wali, Doctor of Pharmacy. (Photo/El Comercio de Colorado)

Vaccine Safety

“These vaccines do not contain live viruses, which makes them less risky for pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems. For those still doubtful, studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective during pregnancy. Consult with your doctor if you have a particular condition that needs evaluation,” said Wali.

The CDC released findings from an extensive study on over 40,000 women that reduce uncertainty about the vaccine’s effects. The study shows that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy does not pose serious risks to pregnant women who received the vaccine or their babies. Most women in the study received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

The study adds to the evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of premature birth. No study has shown that the vaccine caused labor to start early. Additionally, according to studies, babies born to women who received a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy do not have a higher risk of low birth weight.

Premature Birth due to Virus Effects

Pregnant women should indeed prevent the effects of contracting COVID. According to a report from the Mayo Clinic, “pregnant women with COVID-19 are also more likely to give birth before the 37th week of pregnancy (premature birth). Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 may be at greater risk of problems such as intrauterine fetal death and pregnancy loss.”