Should Pregnant Women Opt for the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Pregnancy is a delicate time period for both mother and child, and any complication can lead to major problems for both. There is a debate going on between major health organizations regarding the case of vaccines for pregnant women. However, the American experts state that the benefits of the vaccine greatly outweigh the risk, and any pregnant woman should not hesitate to get the vaccine.

Shutterstock | A mother, never does anything to put her child’s life at risk

Opposing Opinions

So, should pregnant women consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine shot?

Unfortunately, nothing is ever black and white, and the World Health Organization presents a different picture entirely from American experts. WHO has stated on their sites that pregnant women should refrain from the vaccine as they do not have enough data to rule out its safety for pregnant people.

On the other hand, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been encouraging everyone to get the vaccine. The CDC states that certain groups are going to get the vaccine first, and if any one of them is pregnant, they should get the shot.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that pregnant people should not be kept away from the vaccine given the fact that the US FDA has approved both vaccines Pfizer and BioNTech.

Shutterstock | Some authorities have marked it safe

Can the Vaccine Cause Problems?

So far, it seems like it can, for pure lack of surety otherwise.

The issue here is that pregnant people are already vulnerable and prone to many complications and medical problems. Researches have shown that pregnant people suffer from severe COVID-19 symptoms if they are infected. There are chances that these complications may further result in problems during the child’s delivery.

The vaccine is not entirely safe either. Many symptoms have been observed after receiving the vaccines, the most common side effects being mild flu-like symptoms that do not last long. The experts at CDC believe that despite the fact the vaccines come with side effects, they won’t result in specific issues for pregnant women. According to AGOC, upon inspecting the vaccine, The FDA’s research shows no traces of anything that might be potentially harmful.

Shutterstock | Different bodies will react differently to the vaccine

Unfortunately, due to the lack of data and reports, it’s hard to rule out whether the vaccine is safe for pregnant women or not. Only after some time and advancement, we would be able to answer the question. That means getting the vaccine is a personal choice as of now. Many institutions and organizations believe it is harmless, whereas, on the other hand, there is not enough research to back it up.