The Union Health Ministry on Friday announced pregnant women would now be included in the vaccination drive against Covid-19. The ministry has also shared elaborate operational guidelines on this to help states and hospitals.

Stressing on the need for vaccination, it said Covid-19 infection during pregnancy may result in rapid deterioration of the mother's health and could also affect the fetus.

Pregnant women who develop Covid-19 are more likely to require intensive care than their non-pregnant counterparts. Experts are of the view that the benefits of vaccination to pregnant women outweigh its potential risks.

WHEN CAN PREGNANT WOMEN TAKE VACCINES
Experts have suggested that the Covid-19 vaccine may be offered to pregnant women if no contraindications exist. The intent behind this is to weigh in the risk versus benefit on a case-by-case basis so that a pregnant woman can take an informed decision.

This decision would be based on the woman's understanding that the risk of infection and/or morbidity from Covid-19 outweighs the risk of being vaccinated during pregnancy.

WOMEN SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE
As per the guidelines, pregnant women have to be provided with information about the risks of Covid-19 infection during pregnancy, the benefits of vaccination, along its possible side effects.

RIGHT ORIENTATION FOR VACCINATORS
The ministry has asked states to undertake an orientation of programme managers responsible for the Covid vaccination programme at district, block and sub-block levels.

This would include those at Health and Wellness Centres and vaccinators at the health facilities in the public and private sectors. Apart from this, all frontline workers and healthcare providers at all levels, including medical colleges, district hospitals, sub-district hospitals, CHCs, PHCs, private clinics etc. who provide ANC services to women will be included.

ENGAGE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE PVT SECTOR
As per the guidelines, states would conduct an orientation for members from professional bodies such as FOGSI, IMA, IAP & NNF, and any other state-specific professional bodies.

Through these orientation sessions, they would be requested to ensure that information related to vaccinating pregnant women is transmitted to all members. These sessions can also be conducted virtually.