234 PREGNANT WOMEN JABBED, 1 ADVERSE EVENT SEEN IN CITY

MUMBAI: As many as 234 pregnant women in the city have taken Covid-19 vaccine shots over the past two weeks. Of these, two women have taken the second dose, while the rest are partially vaccinated. One case of adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) has been reported so far, according to the civic body.

According to Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), AEFI was reported in a 24-year-old woman who was in her fourth month of pregnancy. The woman had taken the second dose of the vaccine (Covaxin) at Parel’s KEM Hospital on July 16. Next day, she complained of fever, around 10-20 episodes of vomiting, cough and headache. She also had swelling in the gums on the left side. She was admitted to KEM Hospital on July 19 and discharged after four days.

“We follow the procedure laid out by the Centre about explaining possible side effects of the vaccine when pregnant women come for taking the shots,” said Dr Vidya Thakur, medical superintendent of civic-run Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, which is one of the 35 centres where pregnant women can get vaccinated. “We also explain to them about the risks of the infection,” she said, adding that their centre has vaccinated only around 10 pregnant women so far.

Several gynaecologists said that pregnant women complained of very mild after-effects of vaccinations like feeling feverish, mild fever, and body ache. “No one has returned with any major complaints,” said gynaecologist Dr Suruchi Desai from Vile Parle’s Nanavati Hospital. Desai, added that there is need to spread awareness among pregnant women about the importance of vaccination.

The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has been pushing for vaccinations for pregnant and lactating women for a long time. “Covid-19 during pregnancy can be very risky for the mother-to-be as well as the baby in some cases,” said Dr Bipin Pandit, gynaecologist, who is also vice-president of FOGSI. “Vaccination can bring down these risks drastically. We have been strongly advocating vaccinations for a while now,” he said.