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Covid-19 vaccines and pregnancy

por Anita | Ago 29, 2021 | Privada

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or want to become pregnant and are wondering if covid-19 vaccines are safe for you.

Read on to learn about the latest recommendations from international health organizations for women who are pregnant, want to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.

- Pregnancy.

The immune system reacts differently during pregnancy so, in order to protect the baby, pregnant women do not routinely receive live attenuated virus vaccines. Other vaccines, such as pertussis and influenza, are considered safe.

Some of the vaccines, which are being used in countries such as Belgium, do not contain live attenuated virus. These have been tested on pregnant rats, before and during gestation, without detecting any safety problems for the rats and their offspring.

However, although experts, based on how these vaccines work in the body, believe that some level of risk to pregnant women is unlikely, current data are not sufficient to guarantee that these vaccines are safe for all pregnant women. Clinical trials to determine the safety of vaccines in pregnant women are still being conducted and reviewed.

The Coronavac vaccine from Sinovac Laboratories has among its contraindications, pregnancy and lactation. This is until information is available from clinical studies in these groups.

On the other hand, it is now known that pregnancy is an elevated risk factor. Pregnant women can contract a severe form of the virus. May develop illnesses that require hospitalization, intensive care, use of respiratory machines and there is also a high risk of premature delivery and fatal illnesses.

What should we understand then?

While vaccination is a personal choice and not a requirement in some countries, it is best to consult with your physician and take into account the following considerations:

- If you are frequently exposed to the virus, for example, you are a doctor, nurse, teacher... If you have an underlying condition, such as heart disease and diabetes.

- The risk of contracting the virus, both for you and for the fetus or baby. • El riesgo que representa contraer el virus, tanto para ti como para el feto o bebe.

- The facts about covid-19 vaccines: how they work, the benefits to you and your baby, side effects, and the growing body of research on their safety for pregnant women.

- The type of vaccine administered in your country of residence and its contraindications.

- Breastfeeding.

Although there are no data available on the safety of vaccines in lactating women, based on how these vaccines work in the body, experts understand that there is no risk to lactating women or the baby. So, according to them, they can be vaccinated. However, some agencies consider that it is necessary to wait for more data on the behavior of vaccines in this case.

- People who want to become pregnant.

So far, no evidence of risks affecting fertility has been presented for any vaccine, including covid-19 vaccines. Therefore, there is no downside if you are trying to get pregnant.

Conclusion

Pregnant women who are in constant contact with the virus (doctors, nurses, teachers...) or who suffer from lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, obesity (Body Mass Index e>30), should consider vaccination.

Women in breastfeeding period, as well as pregnant women, should follow the recommendations given by their country's authorities.

Those who wish to become pregnant can be vaccinated, as there is no evidence to show that there are any risks in this case.

The relevant agencies are constantly researching the performance of covid-19 vaccines and you can always find updated information in their respective media.

Sources:

Gezondheid en Wetenscchap (Salud y ciencia)
www.gezondheidenwetenschap.be
Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades.(CDC siglas en ingles).
www.cdc.gov/spanish/
https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MUJERES-EMBARAZADAS-8.pdf

Covid -19! Tips to protect yourself and your family.

por Anita | Ago 28, 2021 | Privada

Tips to protect yourself and your family.

Some people do not know they are infected, since in many cases no symptoms are present, so they can transmit it to other people These people may be family members or friends. On the other hand, we do not know with certainty how our body will react if we are infected. Hence the importance of following the rules imposed by the authorities and the advice of professionals with sufficient knowledge about the behavior of this virus.

Here are these tips that, although they may seem repetitive to some, are necessary to contain the spread of the virus and, although it is true that the death rate has dropped considerably in some countries, we also see that the infection curve has risen again, which indicates that it is not yet time to lower our guard.

It should be noted that these are general recommendations since each country has established its own particular standards.

Add here your Apply the 5 healthy habits:

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.

Avoid excessive use of antibacterial gels, especially those that are perfumed, since, according to some experts, many of their components can cause permanent stains on the skin if exposed to the sun.

Don't give a hand or a kiss.

Remember that on the one hand, not all of us follow the hand washing rule to the letter, either because of delinquency, because it happens to them or simply because they don't give a damn about Covid.

Use a new tissue each time and dispose of it in a closed trash can.

No handkerchief? Coughing or sneezing on the inside of the elbow.

Stay home when you are sick and keep your distance from family members.

When a person tests positive but does not have severe symptoms, it is usually recommended to stay home for a certain period of time and to isolate oneself from the rest of the family. The fact that you have no symptoms does not indicate that the virus you have is weaker but that your body has reacted differently. So you can pass it on to another person whose body reacts to the virus in such a way that it leads to hospitalization and even death.

Pay more attention to people who are more sensitive to the virus:

Persons over 65 years of age.
People with diabetes (type 2), in combination with obesity and/or heart, lung or kidney problems.
People with heart, lung or kidney problems
People susceptible to infections

Maintaining distance

Keep 1.5 meters away from other people.
Wear a mask, if you are in a public place (station, market, store, busy street...) and you cannot keep 1.5 meters distance.
Family reunions depend on the situation of the country. In Belgium, for example, meetings can be held with a maximum of 4 people.
In countries where infection rates are still high, it is best to stay in your family bubble.

The eradication of Covid-19 is the responsibility, not only of the authorities, health personnel and laboratories, but of everyone, since we ALL run the same risk and we all want to return to normality and economic stability in our countries.