Pregnant women’s low turnout for vax a worry

KALYAN: With private maternity hospitals undertaking Covid-19 vaccination for pregnant women, city-based gynaecologists have expressed concerns over the low turnout.

In Kalyan, around 200 pregnant women have been given their first dose in a month while only 120 in Thane have taken theirs. The hospitals, apart from giving the vaccine, is also emphasising on counselling the pregnant women to get their dose, explaining its significance.

Ashwin Kakkar, gynaecologist at the Vaishnavi Maternity Home in Kalyan (W), said, “As of now, only 10% of my pregnant women have taken the vaccination. The response is low. So far, we should have vaccinated around 3,000 pregnant women. However, we could only do 250 in a month. The response is low due to fear among the patients and lack of knowledge.”

The hospital also vaccinated around 50 lactating moms.

In Thane, Dr. Bedekar Hospital for Women and Children has vaccinated 120 pregnant women and 10 lactating mothers in a month. “We do not force the patients to take the dose but counsel them. Many have taken the dose after counselling and that is a positive sign. But, there is a need for more and more pregnant women to come forward and take their dose. They

can take it anytime,” said Dr Mahesh Bedekar, gynaecologist.

“From among all the vaccinations we did for pregnant women, there were no complaints. Whenever we counsel, we tell them to expect fever and body ache and prescribe medicine too. The vaccination is not

harmful to the babies even during pregnancy or later. We explain to them that between Covid and vaccine, Covid is harmful and not the vaccine,” added Bedekar.

In Dombivli, Om Hospital is also planning to start vaccinating pregnant women.

RISHIKESH CHOUDHARY/HT A pregnant woman takes her jab at Vaishnavi Maternity Home in Kalyan on Thursday.