20L vaccine doses given to pregnant women so far: Govt

New Delhi: Around 20 lakh doses of Covid vaccines have been given to pregnant women in the county so far, an official source said underlining the need to ramp up vaccination among those expecting a delivery.

While exactly how many pregnant women have received Covid vaccine doses is not known, an estimated 50-60% of the total pregnant women at present are likely to have got at least one dose of the jabs either before they conceived or during pregnancy.

“It is difficult to say how many pregnant women have been vaccinated without a proper study because there will be women who would have got vaccinated before they conceived. On the other hand, deliveries are happening every day,” the official said. There are around 25 lakh women pregnant across the country every month.
The government is now contemplating to commission a study or a survey to assess how many pregnant women have got a shot – either before or after they conceived. “This is crucial because the threat of infection is still there and pregnant women are vulnerable to infection. On the contrary, vaccination not only protects the would-be mother but also her child from Covid infection,” the official said.

While there were major hesitancy related issues initially, awareness campaigns run by the government instilled confidence about safety and efficacy of the jabs. The government is also running an awareness campaign to expand coverage in this category.

On July 2, the health ministry announced inclusion of pregnant women in the ongoing vaccination drive against Covid-19 following recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI).