Doha: The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has cited five reasons why it is important for pregnant women to get vaccinated against Covid-19.
In a statement on Twitter, MoPH listed the following reasons:
1. WHO guidance states that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 compared with women of childbearing age who are not pregnant.
2. COVID-19 has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and other pregnancy complications
3. The vaccines are safe. Around the world, hundreds of thousands of pregnant women have been vaccinated, mainly with Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and no notable safety concerns have been identified
4. With the delta variant being prominent in Qatar and most countries around the world it is more important than ever for pregnant women to get vaccinated. The delta variant is more transmissible and causes more severe symptoms than other strains.
5. The vaccines are highly effective - almost all hospital admissions are for individuals who are not fully vaccinated.
"Contact your primary health center today to make a vaccination appointment," MoPH mentioned in the statement.
Recently, the Ministry also announced a milestone on the National COVID-19 Vaccination Program in the country, wherein 90% of Qatar's eligible population (12 years and above) have now received at least one dose of the vaccine.