Pregnant, lactating women must avoid COVID-19 vaccine: Health Ministry
The Union Health Ministry has not permitted COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and lactating mothers citing precautions and contraindications for the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India scheduled on January 16. India has approved Covaxin by Bharat Biotech and Covishield for Serum Institute for emergency use.
The Health Ministry wrote a letter to the States/Union Territories sharing a factsheet for both the vaccines (Covishield and Covaxin).
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Meanwhile, the Central government has directed the States and UTs to spread the information to program managers across all levels.
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The letter stated: "Under the emergency use authorisation, Covid-19 vaccination is indicated only for 18 years and above. The interchangeability of the Covid-19 vaccine is not permitted. The second dose should also be of the same Covid-19 vaccine which was administered as the first dose."
If in case, co-administration of vaccines is required then Covid-19 vaccine and other vaccines should be separated by an interval of at least 14 days, the ministry stated.
Since pregnant and lactating women were not part of any COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial, thus, these women should not receive the Covid-19 vaccine at this time, the government said.
-PTC News
