Maybe the pregnant women themselves are not so worried. However, their husbands, parents, and those close to them are the reason behind them avoiding to get vaccinatedAmbon, Maluku (ANTARA) - The Ambon Health Office is encouraging local pregnant women to get vaccinated since only 56 of the targeted 1,980 expectant mothers are vaccinated.
"The vaccination rate among women in 13 weeks of gestation, or in the second trimester of the pregnancy, is still low, ever since it kicked off on August 19, 2021. Hence, through the 'Vaccination Week Celebration', we are also aiming for inoculating pregnant women," Head of the Ambon Health Office Wendy Pelupessy noted in Ambon, Maluku Province, on Friday.
Some 1,980 pregnant women are targeted for vaccination in Ambon out of the total of 8,824.
The vaccination rate is still low owing to fear and concern among pregnant women and those close to them.
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"Maybe the pregnant women themselves are not so worried. However, their husbands, parents, and those close to them are the reason behind them avoiding to get vaccinated," she stated.
Pelupessy noted that pregnant and breastfeeding women were groups susceptible to the virus and would experience severe symptoms once they contracted the disease. Such facts have increased the urgency to vaccinate this group.
Pregnant women will receive Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine as well as Sinovac’s inactivated platform vaccine.
Pelupessy revealed that her administration had prepared four thousand Sinovac vaccines for pregnant women.
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She deemed it was important for pregnant women to get vaccinated in order to suppress the maternal mortality rate. Her message is also backed by the central government's recommendation to inoculate pregnant women.
"Hence, there is nothing to worry about in getting vaccinated," she affirmed.
She explained that a special criteria was set for vaccination for pregnant women, so the screening process was conducted in more detail in comparison to other targets.
"The first dose will be administered in the second trimester of pregnancy or 13 weeks of gestation, and the second dose will be given according to the interval of the type of vaccine," she concluded.
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Translator: Penina F M, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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