{"id":491,"date":"2021-01-23T04:38:50","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T04:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jrn-305-2021\/?p=491"},"modified":"2021-01-23T05:05:50","modified_gmt":"2021-01-23T05:05:50","slug":"pandemic-pregnancies-to-vaccinate-or-not-to-vaccinate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/jrn-305-2021\/2021\/01\/23\/pandemic-pregnancies-to-vaccinate-or-not-to-vaccinate\/","title":{"rendered":"Pandemic Pregnancies: To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the rising COVID-19 cases, the rush for the vaccine is increasing- and so are people\u2019s fears. Among the most vulnerable are pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Ontario government just announced in January that COVID-19 vaccines were open for pregnant and breastfeeding women<\/a> alike, but the choice remains a difficult one to make for many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All potential vaccine-takers need to weigh in the risks of taking the vaccine, but that responsibility is larger for families who need to consider a newborn\u2019s safety. Risks vary from person to person, but according to this CBC article<\/a>, it is mainly the unpredictability and lack of data that is a major concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A general warning, however, is made by Dr. Scott Halperin, the director of the Canadian Center for Vaccinology. Halperin advises to delay vaccination if you have ever had anaphylactic reactions to vaccines in the past, as stated in this article<\/a>, as fevers are the most likely cause of harm to an unborn child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To those who decide to take the vaccine, this article<\/a> published by Harvard Medical School recommends the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to be the one taken by pregnant and breastfeeding women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of women who are considering becoming pregnant in the near future, it is recommended in the Harvard article that the vaccine be taken as soon as possible to remain safe, and believes that the vaccine does not affect fertility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to know more about the experiences of pregnant women during the pandemic? Learn more about two womens\u2019 experiences down below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n