Covid-19: Vaccinating pregnant women a challenge

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 4

Even as the vaccination of pregnant women against Covid-19 is slowly picking up pace in urban areas, the real challenge lies in rural areas where expectant mothers are not ready to get jabbed.

An ASHA worker from the Samrala area said earlier villagers used to adhere to their advice but since the pandemic broke out they were not ready to listen to anything.

“The moment the villagers see an ASHA worker coming, they close their doors and hurl abuses. They blame us for their positive test results in the past and are not ready to listen about the vaccination,” said the ASHA worker, who wished not to be named.

“Women are counselled during their routine antenatal check-ups and they are told about the benefits of the vaccination. Even if they agree to get vaccinated, they return home saying they will get vaccinated after consulting their families but never come back,” said a doctor in-charge at a Primary Health Centre.

“Earlier they were hesitant to get tested against the Covid also, but since it is mandatory, we can force them. The vaccination is purely optional, so we cannot do anything,” the doctor added.

During the first wave, the scene was quite different and there was no evidence regarding transmission to a baby from a Covid positive mother. However, during the second wave, transmission to babies was seen in the form of intrauterine deaths, and newborns also tested positive, said Dr Sarita, a city-based gynaecologist.

Keeping in view the expected third wave, it is highly recommended to all females to get themselves vaccinated against the Covid, she added.

Tanisha, an expectant mother who recently got herself vaccinated, said although there was a lot of hesitation earlier, she got herself vaccinated last week after reading a lot about the effects of vaccination on pregnant women.

“I just got fever and there was pain in the arm on which I received the shot, rest all went well and I am glad I opted to get vaccinated,” said Tanisha.

District Immunisation Officer Dr Puneet Juneja said regular counselling of women was being done and 10 of them received jabs at government centres on the first day of the inoculation drive.

“We are not keeping a separate data on the vaccination of pregnant women, so the exact number cannot be called. However, the number is going to increase in the coming days as awareness is being created among masses,” said Dr Juneja.

On July 2, the Union Health Ministry had announced that pregnant women were eligible to get the Covid-19 vaccine.