Kediri, E Java (ANTARA) - A lecturer of the Malang Health Polytechnic of the Health Ministry Susanti Pratamaningtyas ascertained that COVID-19 vaccines are permissible and safe for administration to pregnant women.
"According to Health Ministry’s Circular Letter Number HK.02.01/I/2007/2021, vaccination is allowed for pregnant women, and (it has been) declared as safe. It is even recommended (for them) to boost the pregnant women's immune systems," Pratamaningtyas noted here on Thursday.
Pregnancy can be categorized as comorbidity once exposed to COVID-19, according to Pratamaningtyas.
"The immune systems of pregnant women tend to decline. Inoculation can help to boost pregnant women's immune systems," she remarked.
Pratamaningtyas who is also a midwife called on pregnant women to not harbor concerns and also encouraged them to partake in inoculation.
She also warned about the cases of deaths in pregnant women due to COVID-19, as the number of cases were steadily on the rise and pressed for conducting vaccinations in order to suppress death counts among expectant mothers.
Pratamaningtyas opined that the Health Ministry had taken into account adverse events following immunization during the formation of the policy.
"I think it is safe, particularly Sinovac, and it can be given to pregnant women, and adverse events following immunization are not so severe. Apart from that, I suggest pregnant women to consume ample quantities of nutritious foods," she emphasized.
The Kediri City Health Office had educated pregnant women of the importance of vaccination. Inoculation has been prioritized for women in their 14 to 33 weeks of pregnancy, as per the Circular Letter of the Health Ministry.
Kediri City Mayor Abdullah Abu Bakar voiced support for the circular letter, saying his side will inoculate pregnant women in Kediri City.
"We accelerate vaccination for pregnant women, given many of them died. I read that pregnant women have comorbidity, so PKK, at the moment, is preparing to educate pregnant women," the mayor stated.
Some 700 pregnant women in Kediri City are expected to partake in the inoculation process. As of July 2021, the Kediri City Health Office had recorded six deaths among pregnant women exposed to COVID-19.
As of Tuesday, August 3, some 2,923 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in Kediri City, 652 were hospitalized, 2,024 made a recovery, and 247 died.
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