BACOLOD City – The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) here encouraged expectant moms to get vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Pregnant and recently pregnant women are more likely to experience severe COVID, according to City Administrator Em Ang, also the executive director of the EOC.
An unvaccinated seven-month pregnant resident of this city succumbed to COVID-19 on Sept. 5.
According to the EOC, the woman’s unborn child also died.
The woman started experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, colds, sore throat, and difficulty in breathing as early as August 27 but refused to see a doctor, Ang said.
Her husband brought her to a private hospital after eight days of exhibiting coronavirus symptoms.
She subsequently underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); she tested positive.
“The city’s vaccination drive prioritizes expecting mothers. Special lanes are provided for them for their convenience during vaccination,” Ang said.
Pregnancy is not a contraindication to getting the COVID-19 vaccine (except for the Gamaleya vaccine, Gamaleya vaccine shall not be administered to the pregnant and breastfeeding populations), the Department of Health (DOH) said.
The DOH added that pregnant women can get the vaccine with precaution, given that there is limited data on pregnant women from clinical studies.
“If a pregnant woman is part of a group recommended for vaccination, vaccination can be offered. It is advised to get the vaccine after the 1st trimester of pregnancy,” the DOH said.
Meanwhile, breastfeeding women can also get the anti-COVID shots, the health department added.
“Despite limited data on this, the World Health Organization states that if a breastfeeding is part of a group recommended for vaccination (for example, healthcare workers), vaccination can be offered,” the DOH said.
It is also not recommended to discontinue breastfeeding before or after vaccination.
On the other hand, the Bacolod Respiratory Outpatient Center offers free swabbing for individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Ang also appealed to the public to strictly observe the minimum health protocols as cases in this city is rising./PN