Israel to Advise Pregnant Women to Get Vaccinated

According to Itamar Grotto, the deputy director-general of the Health Ministry, officials are likely to advise that pregnant women be given high priority for vaccination. 

In an interview, Grotto asserted that it is common knowledge that women are at a high risk of contracting the coronavirus during pregnancy. Therefore, the Health Ministry believes that they should get vaccinated as soon as possible. 

Sources belonging to the ministry reported that a final decision on this matter will be made on Tuesday. It has been speculated that the finalized decision is likely to be one that gives preference to women who are expecting. 

However, up until now, neither Pfizer nor the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that pregnant women should get inoculated. This is primarily because when the American pharmaceutical company carried out trials, it did not include pregnant women in them. 

Just a few days ago, the head of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit at Sheba Medical Center, Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, revealed that she is encouraging as many pregnant women as she can to get the jab. Her reason for doing this is because she has noticed that women who are expecting are regularly showing up in intensive care units in hospitals, on account of them being in a critical condition following a positive coronavirus diagnosis. 

She clearly stated that she recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated as soon as they get the chance. The doctor went on to say that she believes it is more dangerous to contract the virus than get inoculated with a vaccine that is not seemingly harmful to pregnant women. She further informed that pertussis and flu vaccines are being given to women who are currently expecting. 

For now, nearly 10 pregnant women are in hospice care due to the deadly disease. There have been a couple of premature cesarean deliveries as well in recent days, especially for women who were in need of intubation. 

Late on Monday night, it was also reported that a 35-year-old woman, who had contracted the virus, was rushed to the hospital in her 31st week of pregnancy. Her condition had deteriorated following the positive diagnosis. As soon as she arrived at the hospital, the doctors decided to put her on a ventilator and deliver the baby right away. Her baby is stable and being taken care of at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center. 

Another woman, a 33-year-old, is currently in an unstable and difficult condition at the hospital. Her baby was delivered on Friday at 31-weeks and is also being taken care of at Schneider. Moreover, the baby’s health is unstable and serious. 

The Sheba Medical Center reported that a woman, who is 21-weeks pregnant, is currently in the coronavirus ICU. Laniado Hospital, located in Netanya, further added that two pregnant women were brought to the hospital on Monday night due to deteriorating health. One of them had to undergo cesarean surgery right away. She is now intubated and anesthetized in a coronavirus ward.