COVID-19 vaccines safe for pregnant women - expert

A health expert on Thursday assured that the vaccines against COVID-19 are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“Currently, there are no evidences of any adverse, so ibig sabihin wala po masamang epekto na nakikita ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga buntis with the COVID vaccine,” Dr. Sybil Lizanne Bravo of the Philippine Infectious Disease Society in Obstetrics and Gynecology (PIDSOG) said at the DOH Kapihan.

(Currently, there is no evidence of any adverse reactions, so this means that there is no bad effect seen for pregnant women with the COVID vaccine.)

Bravo further said vaccination does not affect the baby.

“‘Yung mga risk of makunan o magkakaroon ba ng abnormalities si baby… ito ba ay mangyayari? The answer is very very, of course, very obvious, no,” she said.

(The risk of miscarriage or abnormalities in the baby… will this happen? The answer is of course, very obvious, no.)

Bravo said the reported side effects are mostly mild, such as pain at the injection site, redness, fatigue, muscle pain, and fever.

“Itong mga side effects na ito ay very, very mild at hindi nakakaapekto ng pregnancy (these side effects are very, very mild and do not affect the pregnancy),” she said.

According to Bravo, unvaccinated pregnant women are more likely to have a serious infection, which can lead to preterm labor.

“Nakita po natin marami po nag preterm labor at nanganak po ang mga ating buntis ng hindi tama sa buwan at sila ay nagsilang ng mga maliliit na babies. Ito po ‘yung gusto natin ma-prevent with vaccination,” she said.

(We saw that a lot had preterm labor or gave birth early, and they gave birth to small babies. This is what we want to prevent with vaccination.)

Bravo encouraged pregnant women to get vaccinated after the 14th week since there is limited data on the safety of the vaccines during the first trimester.

“As of now, lumalabas po sa surveillance sa US, Canada, and Europe na wala naman po talaga masamang epekto ‘yung mga nabigyan po ng COVID vaccine noong sila ay 8 weeks, or 12 weeks, or less than 14 weeks,” she said.

(As of now, surveillance in the US, Canada, and Europe show that there are no bad effects on those given the vaccine less than 14 weeks into their pregnancy.)

“Pero sa ngayon sabi nga po natin kailangan pa rin po natin ng maraming studies (but we’re saying that we need to wait for more studies),” she added.

Bravo also urged pregnant and breastfeeding women to get booster shots against COVID-19.

She said all vaccines are recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women except for Gamaleya Sputnik V.

“Sa Gamaleya for the first dose at saka second dose… magkaiba po yung strain sa adenovirus na ginamit,” she said. “So ngayon po due to lack of studies about the safety and efficacy, hindi pa po ito nirerecommend mismo ng Gamaleya company.”

(So Gamaleya used a different strain of adenovirus for their first and second dose. Due to the lack of studies about safety and efficacy, this is not yet recommended by the Gamaleya company.)

Bravo said they are waiting for more studies.

“We’re just waiting… for them to come up with other studies proving the efficacy and safety of the Gamaleya type of COVID vaccine,” she said.

“Pero sa ngayon po, due to lack of studies, hindi pa ito inaapprove ng ating own FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for the use of pregnant and lactating women,” she added.

(But as of now, due to the lack of studies, this is not yet approved by our own FDA for the use of pregnant and lactating women.)

Bravo also said that breastfeeding should not be stopped because antibodies can be passed on to the baby.

“Marami pong studies ngayon… that prove that there was indeed a transfer of antibodies through the breast milk from the mother to the baby. Ito po ‘yung tinatawag na vaccine-induced antibodies,” she said.

(There are numerous studies that prove that there is indeed a transfer of antibodies through the breast milk from the mother to the baby. These are called vaccine-induced antibodies.)

She said this was found to be very effective at preventing COVID-19 infection.

“Kapag ang isang bata nakuha niya ang antibodies through breast milk sa kanyang nanay, malaking chance na hindi siya mahawaan ng [COVID-19] sa first three to six months of life niya po,” she said.

(If the child gets the antibodies through the breast milk of the mother, there is a good chance that he will not be infected with COVID in his first three to six months.)

COVID-positive moms can still breastfeed their children, said Dr. Carmela Madrigal-Dy, president of the Philippine Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine.

“Provided na syempre gumamit sila ng precaution like mag-mask sila, ‘yung hand washing, ‘yung safety measures na sinasabi natin,” she said.

(Provided that they follow precautions like wearing face masks and hand washing.)

Bravo said that if the moms are separated from their babies due to unforeseen circumstances, they may store breast milk.

“‘Yung tandaan lang po natin, kahit ngayong panahon ng pandemya, ‘yung benefits nung breastfeeding far outweighs ‘yung risk,” added Dr. Maria Julieta Germar.

(We have to remember that even during a pandemic, the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the risks.) — VBL, GMA News