Your Pregnancy

DOCTORS NOTES ON COVID

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Acco n mbe an wh b

Whil hat c r n on s v rs ly affected as adults by the virus, we ar e e dren who are asymptomat­ic, and this is worrying, because they could be spreading the virus, Dr Karbanee cautions. Data suggests that children under the age of 18 years represent about 8.5 percent of reported cases, with relatively few deaths compared to other age groups. News reports are now suggesting that children may also be more susceptibl­e to the new strains of the virus, without serious consequenc­es. However, there is very limited data available on the number of children who are asymptomat­ic.

“This is why it is important for children to practise social distancing and handwashin­g, even if they do not appear ill, as they can pass the disease on to family members, or others,” Dr Karbanee says.

Should pregnant women consider getting the vaccine?

“If you are a high risk patient and pregnant, I urge you to consider taking the vaccine, provided that you have discussed it with your doctor,” Dr Karbanee says, adding that high risk includes being overweight, diabetic or having a lung illness. He says that, given the risk of complicati­ons from Covid-19, should you be a high risk patient and pregnant, the vaccine offers a relatively safe guard against the coronaviru­s.

“The vaccine is not a live virus-based vaccine. This vaccine is made from a protein extract from the virus, which, when you get exposure to it, lowers your risk of getting extreme symptoms. There have been very few side effects recorded by those who have taken the vaccine.”

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