In August last year, during an interview on the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in Kenya, acting Health director general Dr Patrick Amoth addressed the issue of the safety of pregnant women and vaccines.
Despite his assurances that the vaccines were safe for pregnant women, misinformation around the issue has continued to spread on social media, particularly on WhatsApp groups.
This article seeks to debunk some of the misinformed claims about Covid-19 vaccines and pregnancy.
CLAIM: I shouldn't get the Covid-19 vaccine if I'm pregnant.
FACT: During the interview, Dr Amoth was categorical on the benefits of giving the vaccine to pregnant women, which far outweighed any risks associated with the vaccine, and urged pregnant women to get vaccinated. “Pregnant women get a more severe form of Covid because during pregnancy, your immune system is slightly reduced because you are carrying a baby. Pregnant women are likely to have poor outcomes. They tend to end up in ICU or have preterm babies if they get infected with Covid,” he explained.
Dr Amoth said emerging evidence pointed to the benefits of pregnant women getting vaccinated. The evidence comes from the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
A study by the Global Vaccine Alliance provided additional evidence that taking a Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy is safe. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. If your vaccine requires two doses, you should still get the second dose even if you find out you are pregnant after the first. Vaccination during pregnancy builds antibodies that protect the mother and the baby.
CLAIM: Do Covid-19 vaccines cross the placenta?
FACT: Covid-19 vaccines DO NOT cross the placenta.
When a Covid-19 vaccine is administered, it works in the muscle where the vaccine is given; it does not cross to the baby directly. The body then recognises the vaccine and generates a response in the form of antibodies.
These antibodies then cross the placenta via the bloodstream to the baby or enter the breast and are passed on to the baby through breastmilk. This process is not unique to Covid-19 vaccines. Influenza and pertussis (whooping cough) are recommended vaccines during pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy has been found to be very effective for protecting newborns from these diseases.
A published study showed that pregnant women who get vaccinated pass on their antibodies to their babies, providing protection against the coronavirus. Another study demonstrated that vaccines in any trimester of pregnancy allowed for the transfer of antibodies to the foetus across the placenta.
CLAIM: "I can't get the Covid-19 vaccine because I'm breastfeeding."
FACT. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to breastfeeding women or their babies. Antibodies developed by vaccinated mothers can also cross to the baby through breastmilk. Vaccination is, therefore, highly recommended in people who are breastfeeding. You are not required to postpone or discontinue breastfeeding in order to receive the vaccine.
CLAIM: Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
FACT: It is recommended that you get a Covid-19 vaccine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Getting a Covid-19 vaccine can protect you from serious illness caused by Covid-19. Vaccination can also assist pregnant women in developing antibodies that may protect their unborn children.
Covid-19 vaccines do not cause infection with the Covid-19 virus, including in pregnant women or their babies. None of the Covid-19 vaccines contain the live virus that causes Covid-19. While more research is needed, preliminary findings indicate that receiving an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy poses no serious risks to pregnant women who were vaccinated or their babies. The findings are based on data from the CDC's coronavirus vaccine safety monitoring system. Also, keep in mind that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines do not alter your DNA or cause genetic changes.
Vaccines that have been authorised by the WHO and the government can be administered to pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy during clinical trials. There were no adverse effects discovered. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of getting a Covid-19 vaccine.
CLAIM: Covid-19 vaccines can make pregnant women sick.
FACT: Pregnant women have not reported any different side effects from non-pregnant individuals after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine. According to the WHO, side effects from vaccination are normal signs that a person's body is developing immunity and should subside within a few days.
Women are more vulnerable to infections and viruses during pregnancy due to changes in their immune system. This risk is exacerbated in part by pregnancy, which suppresses the immune system to some extent. The growing baby compresses the lungs slightly during late pregnancy, allowing women to take in less air with each breath.
Those who are older, overweight or have pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes are at a higher risk of developing severe Covid-19. To reduce the risk and to protect themselves against infection, those who are pregnant should get vaccinated.
This article was produced by the Africa Women’s Journalism Project (AWJP) in partnership with Article 19, Meedan and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).