Dr. Daniel Gottschall, a gynecology specialist at St.
Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, says the benefits of the COVID-19
vaccine for expecting mothers far outweighs the risks.
His statement comes after days of conflicting announcements
on the safety of the vaccine for expectant mothers.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, COVID-19 vaccines should not be withheld from pregnant
individuals who meet criteria for vaccination based on recommended priority
groups.
But on Tuesday, the
World Health Organization said while
pregnancy does put women at a higher risk of severe COVID-19, the use of the
Moderna vaccine in pregnant women is currently not recommended – unless they
are at risk of high exposure.
Dr. Gotschall says if a pregnant woman were to get
COVID-19, there is a higher risk of them getting sicker than women
in the same health status who are not pregnant. He says the Moderna
trial didn't have any pregnant women.
"I understand why their saying it – there isn't a lot
of data,” he told News 12. “But the doctors that are practical, that are out
there in the real world taking care of patients every day – we are recommending
it to our patients."
Dr. Jean Tornatore, the medical director of labor and delivery at Bridgeport Hospital, says it's a personal decision.
Doctors say a pregnant woman who contracts COVID-19 is more likely to be more sick than a woman in the same health status.
Dr. Gotschall is hopeful that they will be able to collect
more retrospective data for pregnant women in the coming year.
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