COVID-19 vaccines are safe for new mothers –OB-GYN

COVID-19 vaccines are safe to be given to mothers who have just given birth to their babies, a health expert said on Saturday.

"Actually po after manganak, practically not just the COVID vaccine, lahat po ng bakuna safe nang ibigay sa buntis eh. But in particular, this COVID vaccine ngayon puwedeng puwede na po. Pagkalabas ng baby, preferrably nga po kung kaya," said OB-GYN and clinical associate at the UP College of Medicine Dr. Sybil Lizanne Bravo at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Actually after giving birth, practically not just the COVID vaccine, but all vaccines are safe to be given to pregnant women. But in particular, COVID vaccines could be given after the baby comes out.)

"Kung kayo po'y makaka-line up na for the COVID vaccine sa inyong LGU, safe po ang COVID vaccine sa mga breastfeeding or sa mga post-partum o mga kapapanganak na nanay. Safe po ito, please have your vaccine right away po," Bravo added.

(If you can line up for the COVID vaccine at your LGU, COVID vaccines are safe for breastfeeding or post-partum mothers. It's safe, please have your vaccine right away.)

Bravo said the chances of pregnant women getting infected with COVID-19 is just the same as the non-pregnant population.

However, pregnant women who were infected with the virus could have severe complications.

These include premature birth or preterm delivery, the baby being smaller, and a small chance of the mother undergoing cesarean section.

Based on studies, there is a small chance of less than three percent that COVID-19 could be passed on to a baby during pregnancy, according to Bravo.

Bravo said they support breastfeeding even if the mother is COVID-19 positive, as long as hygienic practices are maintained. — DVM, GMA News