FHI changes her mind. Vaccination against Covid-19 is now recommended for pregnant women.
The FHI's unclear vaccination recommendations for pregnant women have created great uncertainty among many women.
While the UK authorities have made it clear that it is safe to vaccinate pregnant women, the Norwegian authorities have so far not had clear recommendations.
Until today.
The FHI has now changed its recommendation and recommends that all pregnant women be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Chief physician Margrethe Greve-Isdahl of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) says. Pregnant women have a slightly increased risk of developing severe coronary heart disease. At the same time, knowledge about the vaccination of pregnant women is now greater.
The FHI writes in a press release Wednesday that it recommends all pregnant women to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
Serious twist
The FHI further states that the risk of serious illness among pregnant women infected with the coronavirus is low. At the same time, international research shows that pregnant women are slightly more likely to be severely affected by the disease than non-pregnant women. This risk is highest in the second phase of pregnancy.
- This may be because pregnant women put more and more strain on the heart and lungs as the baby grows in the womb. Therefore, they are more likely to develop serious complications if they become ill for the first time, writes the FHI in a press release.
The risk for a pregnant woman increases.
- That is why we recommend that pregnant women who are in the second and third trimester are vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine against coronavirus. Pregnant women who are at risk for Covid-19 can also be vaccinated from the first trimester, says Greve-Isdahl.
You have to be prepared
The FHI further concludes that, as a precautionary measure, vaccination is generally not recommended in pregnant women during early pregnancy.
Pregnant women who are at risk for coronary heart disease can still be vaccinated during the first trimester of pregnancy. Because the risk of serious illness will also be higher in the first trimester.
- Data from countries where pregnant women have been vaccinated show that vaccination does not adversely affect the course of pregnancy for either the mother or the unborn child. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that pregnant women be given priority over vaccines, and more and more countries begin to vaccinate pregnant women. Vaccination against Covid-19 is already recommended for pregnant women in Denmark and Sweden, says Greve-Isdahl.
