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Vaccinations are quite a controversial topic in Poland. The anti-vaccine movement remains active, both in terms of vaccination as such and against certain diseases. And what is the situation of pregnant women in the context of vaccination? What is definitely worth getting vaccinated for? Which vaccines can be taken and which are not necessarily? This is what the drug says. Paulina Nowak, a specialist in family medicine at the Superior Medical Center in Krakow.
- Vaccinations during pregnancy are recommended by both Polish and global organizations
- In vaccinations during pregnancy, the so-called inactivated (killed) vaccines. Live vaccines are not used, says the drug. Paulina Nowak
- One of the most important vaccinations during pregnancy is the vaccination against whooping cough – adds the doctor. The vaccine against this disease also contains diphtheria and tetanus viruses
- During pregnancy, it is also worth getting vaccinated against flu, hepatitis A or B, tick-borne encephalitis and rabies. There are also no contraindications for vaccination against the coronavirus
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Pregnancy is not a contraindication to vaccinations (not all of them, but more on that later in this article). Moreover, every woman should bear in mind that by vaccinating during pregnancy, it protects against serious infectious diseases not only for herself, but also for her baby.
The main difference
Although vaccinations during pregnancy are recommended both in Poland (including by the Polish Gynecological Society and the Polish Society of Vaccinology) and in the world (including the American Advisory Committee for Protective Vaccinations), the procedure for pregnant women and women who are just preparing pregnancy is slightly different than for other people.
What does the difference come down to? – In vaccinations during pregnancy, i.e. from conception until the birth of a child, the so-called inactivated (killed) vaccines – explains the drug. Paulina Nowak from CM Superior. – Live vaccines containing whole germs free from virulence are not used. Live vaccines available on the market include, for example, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines – adds the doctor.
What should a pregnant woman get vaccinated for?
During pregnancy, killed vaccines, such as vaccinations against influenza, hepatitis A or B, can be used. If you become infected with rabies (for example, before visiting caves or during nature trips), you can also get vaccinated against this disease. It is also worth getting vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.
– One of the most important vaccinations during pregnancy is the vaccination against whooping cough. However, there is no vaccine that would immunize a patient only against this disease. A vaccine is available that contains viruses from three diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, says the doctor. You can also get vaccinated against four diseases, where polio is additional to the three mentioned. Vaccination with this vaccine is advisable between the 28th and 34th week of pregnancy.
In this way, both the pregnant woman and her baby are protected. The woman, by vaccinating herself, transmits the antibodies through the placenta, thus protecting the child from the disease. Children are compulsorily vaccinated only between the 6th and 9th week of life – up to that point they still have protective antibodies from their mother.
The last important vaccination, both before and during pregnancy, is the flu vaccination. They should be repeated seasonally, once a year. Pregnant women are given inactivated vaccines, which are completely safe for the health of the future mother and her baby. Considering the fact that flu during pregnancy may be associated with severe symptoms and a higher risk of complications, the Polish National Immunization Program strongly recommends this vaccination.
Pregnancy and live vaccines
– When planning a pregnancy, a woman should consult a vaccination doctor (a vaccinologist or other vaccination specialist) and ask for an individual vaccination schedule that takes into account procreation plans. If such a woman has not previously been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, or has not had smallpox and has not vaccinated against it, then such vaccinations can be performed with live vaccines. However, the patient must then have a minimum interval of one month between the vaccination and the attempt to get pregnant – explains CM Superior specialist.
What if a woman is already pregnant but is unaware of it herself? It has been proven that the use of live vaccines in pregnant women does not lead to complications related to the duration of pregnancy or the development of the fetus. Administration of the live vaccine during pregnancy is not an indication for its discontinuation. Nevertheless, the rule remains that during pregnancy you should not vaccinate with live vaccines. There is a theoretical risk that this type of vaccine may cause an infection in the fetus.
During pregnancy, it is good to regularly check the mother’s health, so it is worth choosing a blood test package for a pregnant woman.
What about COVID-19?
The topic of vaccination against COVID-19 electrified Polish society for a long time. However, it was quickly proven that pregnancy is not a contraindication in the case of a vaccine for this disease. Moreover, Polish scientists conducted research which showed that after being vaccinated against the coronavirus, antibodies are transmitted through the placenta, thanks to which the child is born being immune to the disease.
Superior Medical Center is a Krakow clinic with modern equipment from the gynecology and obstetrics department. Above all, however, it is a team of outstanding specialists who guarantee that diagnosis and medical care are always at the highest level here.
Therefore, i.a. The Polish Society of Vaccination recommends vaccinations against COVID-19 for pregnant women, regardless of the stage of pregnancy in which the woman is. Therefore, considering the great and widespread threat – not so long ago – of the coronavirus, it was known that the benefits far outweighed the negative consequences of the disease.
This is also the case with all other diseases for which a pregnant woman should be vaccinated. It is always worth considering the calculation of potential threats and opportunities. And this one speaks overwhelmingly in favor of vaccines.