Pregnant women will not be included in the initial phase of the country’s vaccination program when Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) receives the first quota of COVID-19 vaccines.
The confirmation comes on Monday from Dr Adesh Sirjusingh, director of the women’s health directorate, during the Ministry of Health’s virtual COVID-19 update.
‘Although the science and technology for the development of these vaccines have been used for many years in the development and roll-out of many other vaccines, pregnant women and non-breastfeeding women have not been included in the clinical trials on the current range of COVID vaccines. not. We simply do not have enough data to make a clear recommendation about this vulnerable population.
“Our country will therefore follow the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the use of emergency permits in the population of Trinidad and Tobago. And, of course, use our own rural situation analysis, which may differ from many others in the world, ”Sirjusingh said.
He noted that the country is awaiting further data and additional study publications, and that the vaccine will not be allowed for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women in T&T during the initial rollout.
Meanwhile, Sirjusingh said pregnant women should continue to follow all social measures at all times, especially if they attend clinic sessions at health care providers.
The women’s health director argued that labor, labor and delivery are essential, and encourage pregnant women to wear masks, avoid unnecessary contact with their face, nose, eyes and mouth, wash their hands and / or disinfect regularly, to ensure that physical distance is observed, avoids crowds and / or sociability, finds a safe place away from others other than the need to eat or drink, avoids and avoids unnecessary interaction with people from outside their households.
‘If you are sick and pregnant, if you have symptoms that indicate infection … cough, fever, breathing problems, call the nearest healthcare provider or ambulance service at 811. Avoid traveling by public transport.
“If you are pregnant and need to work, you should discuss this with your employer, especially if you are a healthcare provider,” Sirjusingh said.
COVID-19 and pregnancy
Sirjusingh said 39 women in Trinidad contracted the virus at different stages of their pregnancies, while Tobago produced a single case.
‘Some of these women became very ill and needed high dependency and intensive care unit care. To date, however, all the mothers and their delivery babies have been successfully managed. No newborn baby was affected or had to be admitted as a result. ”
He noted that the overall risk of COVID-19 on our pregnant women is slightly higher than that of the average healthy population, and Sirjusingh added that data are now evolving indicating that pre-term labor in women with COVID-19 slightly increased if they ‘re in the last few months of pregnancy.
‘There is a minimal risk of transmission of COVID-19 to the unborn baby or to the baby after birth. There appears to be no risk of abnormal fetal effects in infants born to mothers with COVID-19. ‘
He said breastfeeding is encouraged in women with COVID-19 as soon as they are good enough to do so, noting that breast milk contains antibodies that confer some immunity to COBID-19.
Sirjusingh said pregnant women with obesity or medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease and high blood pressure are part of a group at greater risk of developing COVID-19. Women who are older when they are pregnant (35+) and those who are in the last three months of pregnancy are also in that high-risk group.
Decrease in births
He said the country recorded 15,171 deliveries in 2020, a slight decrease compared to 2018 and 2019, and Sirjusingh noted that no additional maternity services are needed due to COVID-19.
“For the third year in a row, Trinidad and Tobago is achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals targets for the areas of maternal and neonatal deaths.
‘In many countries, maternity and newborn services have been severely disrupted, and they have seen an excess mortality rate. In many countries worldwide, there have also been many documented deaths in pregnant women. Fortunately, our country is in a good place without maternal deaths in Trinidad and Tobago from COVID-19.
‘Unlike in other countries, all of our maternity and newborn services have continued to function normally. And we have successfully implemented isolation and other workflow changes and other protocols at all of our public healthcare facilities to ensure that our patients and staff are protected, ”said Sirjusingh.