On the basis of the opinion of the Council of the Professional Association of Obstetrics and Gynacology, the leaders of Gynacology and Obstetrics Clinics and the Clinical Epidemiology Analysis Group, the National Centre for Public Health has begun to allow expectant women to be inoculated against the coronavirus.
Pregnant women may receive the first shot during the second or third trimester and wait to get the second dose until after they have had their baby. In accordance with the requirements, breastfeeding mothers may get vaccinated anytime during the lactating period, which is then followed by the second dose 5 weeks later. Expectant mothers can be admitted for vaccination by their general practitioners or gynecologists. This Saturday Semmelweis University established a vaccination point for expectant women. According to dr. Béla Merkely pregnant women will be among those getting priority access to the vaccines.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe in pregnant and lactating women. After the patient’s request a risk-benefit assessment should be carried out by the doctor- said dr. Béla Merkely, leader of the Clinical Epidemiology Analysis Group, whose members are famous professors of the four Hungarian medical universities.
The Rector of Semmelweis University also added that expectant mothers in their second or third trimester of pregnancy can contact their general practitioners or gynecologists to request a vaccine appointment. The second dose should be delayed until after they have their baby. This delay is considered necessary, as the second dose may trigger a stronger immune reaction, said dr. Béla Merkely.
For these reasons Rector dr. Béla Merkely and dr. Attila Szabó (President of the Clinical Centre) ordered the leaders of the vaccination points to set up an additional vaccination point for pregnant and lactating women. Starting March 27th, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will get priority access to the vaccines here.
Pregnant women may receive the vaccine, in case they are in care of Semmelweis University or if they were referred by their general practitioners (following the standard procedure of the National Centre for Public Health). They are required to register for the vaccination on vakcinainfo.gov.hu. Expectant women can enter the vaccination points holding a referral letter of their general practitioners or gynecologists, whereas breastfeeding mothers need a final report of their childbirth issued by Semmelweis University not later than a year ago. Mothers who had given birth more than a year ago, need a medical certificate attesting that the they are currently breastfeeding.
Eszter Kovács
Photo (illustration): Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Norbert Lukács
