The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a new interim recommendation for the COVID-19 vaccine and has advised that pregnant women should not receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. “While pregnancy puts women at a higher risk of severe COVID-19, the use of this vaccine in pregnant women is currently not recommended, unless they are at risk of high exposure (e.g. health workers),” reads the WHO’s statement issued on January 26. 

“The vaccine can be offered to a breastfeeding woman who is part of a group recommended for vaccination (e.g. health workers); discontinuing breastfeeding after vaccination is currently not recommended,” the statement goes on to note.

Meanwhile, the WHO also states that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective in people with known medical conditions associated with increased risk of severe diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver or kidney disease, as well as chronic infections that are stable and controlled. Although further studies are required for immunocompromised persons, people in this category who are part of a group recommended for vaccination may be vaccinated after receiving information and counselling, it recommends.

At present, the COVID-19 immunisation drive is going in India and till January 27 evening, over 2.3 million health workers have been vaccinated, as informed by the Union ministry of health and family welfare.  

As many as nine health workers have also died in the country following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in the 12 days since the start of the immunisation programme on January 16. But, as per the health ministry, none of these deaths are related to the COVID-19 vaccine. 

COVID-19 vaccination drive in India is facing some criticism as the Indian government has given emergency use approval to Bharat Biotech’s indigenously made Covaxin, whose third phase clinical trial results are still not out. 

Recently, Tata Medical & Diagnostics is said to have started initial discussions with Moderna Inc. for a partnership to launch its COVID-19 vaccine in India.

The WHO has said the Moderna vaccine has an efficacy of approximately 92 per cent in protecting against COVID-19, starting 14 days after the first dose of two doses.

Earlier, on January 14, the Union health ministry said that vaccination during pregnancy and for lactating mothers is ‘not recommended’ for both Covishield and Covaxin, which were officially approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for immunisation against the COVID-19.

The public health agencies haven’t yet recommended pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19 as limited data is available on the safety of the vaccines when administered during pregnancy.

Earlier, on January 12, Gaon Connection also reported about the divided opinion in the country on getting the pregnant women vaccinated for COVID-19.

The health experts differ about the risk of vaccinating pregnant women. Lucknow-based gynaecologist Neelam Gupta said that pregnant women need to get priority as the risk of contracting the virus for this section of population is high, and they may go in for pre-term (premature) delivery. However, Kolkata-based gynaecologist Soumitra Kumar said that for now there was no need to vaccinate pregnant women as there was insufficient data on the risks and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.

A recent Gaon Connection survey across 16 states and one union territory showed only 15.3 per cent of rural respondents suggested prioritising pregnant women in their households for COVID-19 vaccination.