WHO advises pregnant women not to go for COVID-19 vaccine

Says it is safe for patients of hypertension, diabetes, asthma, pulmonary, liver or kidney disease

Srinagar: The World Health Organisation has advised pregnant women not to go for COVID-19 vaccine but saying it is safe for people from ailments like hypertension, diabetes and asthma.

The advisory has come as lot of people across the world have shown their reluctance to take COVID-19 vaccine shots fearing they might develop complications.

According to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), the WHO has advised that pregnant women should not receive the 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),” the WHO says.

“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,” it says.

However it says that COVID-19 vaccine is 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.

Many doctors and nurses are reluctant to take the vaccine, which has become a major concern not only in Kashmir but across the world.

“We have received very poor response at SKIMS Soura where many employees have shown reluctance to take the vaccine. It has put the authorities in a tight spot to remove fears among doctors and other paramedics staff,” a senior official told news agency KINS.

A doctor in one of the hospitals said he was ready to get the vaccine before the vaccination drive but was scared because of all the negative news of the vaccine coming in from different states. “This vaccine may have side effects on some people. After waiting for a little, I will get the vaccine when the overall vaccine results are good,” the doctor said.

A nurse at SMHS Hospital Srinagar said she had heard that those who have an infection should not get the vaccine done. “I want to get the vaccine, but I have a fear in my mind. The question I have is what will happen in the future after getting the vaccine, will there be a problem.” (KINS)