Good news for all those soon-to-be and breastfeeding mothers out there!
A new feature has been introduced in the MySejahtera application to identify pregnant and lactating women who have now been given the green light to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
According to the COVID-19 Vaccine Coordinating Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, pregnant and lactating moms can update their details via the app to set an appointment for their vaccination. The vaccination is now advised for pregnant women between 14 to 33 weeks of pregnancy, as well as nursing moms.
However, the guidelines which were delivered by the Ministry of Health (MOH) were quite complicated and the public seems to be restless since the announcement was made.
Hence, let us make it short and simple!
Breastfeeding & nursing mothers can receive the Pfizer vaccine. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca’s vaccine would only be used for lactating mothers!
The decision was made after the statistics obtained from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that pregnant women with COVID-19 had a higher risk of preterm delivery and may have a higher risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes than pregnant women who are not COVID-19 positive.
However, at this point you have to remember that getting vaccinated is a personal choice. You might prefer to consult with a doctor before receiving the vaccination which has been authorised for use under the Emergency Use Authorisation.
Before heading for your consultation, do list down all your questions, doubts and concerns in regards to the COVID-19 vaccination program. Listed below are among the points that you may want to consider when you consult your doctor:
- How effective is the vaccine?
- How do vaccinations transmit antibodies to the foetus?
- The side effects after receiving vaccinations?
- Hazards of COVID-19 to you and the potential risks to your infant
Hope this information provided was useful for soon-to-be and breastfeeding mommies!
News source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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