The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said that they will be revising the existing guidelines for pregnant women and that they will be included in the Expanded A3 category after the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention has updated its recommendation for pregnant women to get vaccinated against the dreaded Covid-19.
“We will be revising our existing guidelines for pregnant women based on these recommendations and to indicate that they are now part of Expanded A3,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
“Covid-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future,” the updated CDC guidelines stated which was posted on its website.
It stressed that evidence about the safety and effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing.
“These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a Covid-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy,” the CDC added.
Vergeire added that based on the recommendations of our experts, Covid-19 vaccines are “generally safe for pregnant women” and getting vaccinated against Covid-19 is actively recommended during the 2nd or 3rd trimester.
“High-risk pregnant women in their 1st trimester may also be vaccinated provided that benefit and risks have been fully explained and upon securing medical clearance from their doctor,” Vergeire said.
Currently, the DOH said that most of the Covid-19 vaccines authorized in the country are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
“The only vaccine that should not be given to pregnant women is with Gamaleya’s Sputnik V,” Vergeire stressed.