Pregnant women are now eligible for Covid-19 vaccination at any time of the pregnancy, the Union Health Ministry announced on Friday. They can now register on CoWIN or walk-in to the nearest Covid vaccination center to get themselves inoculated. The decision taken on recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). Many countries have started vaccination of pregnant women. The US FDA has approved Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for pregnant women.
According to a statement, all states and union territories have been informed about the decision to implement it. Till now, except for pregnant women, all people above the age of 18 were being vaccinated. Studies have shown that health during pregnancy can deteriorate rapidly due to infection during pregnancy. They are at increased risk of serious diseases. It can also affect the unborn baby. Experts examined evidence that suggests pregnant women are at increased risk of serious illness when infected, compared to normal women.
Despite the weakening of the second wave, an average of 46 thousand new cases are being registered every day. However, there has been a decrease of 13% in the cases of infection this week as compared to the last. In some parts, the infection is still not under control. The positivity rate is more than 10% in 71 districts of the country.
According to the latest data from the Union Health Ministry, India reported 44,111 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours taking the cumulative count of the cases to 3,05,02,362. With 738 deaths in the last 24 hours, the death toll has increased to 4,01,050.
