COVID-19 Vaccine For Lactating Mothers:
Things To Know
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Image: Unsplash | Source: WHO
Breastmilk is important for the health of the baby as it contains vital elements like nutrients that help in the baby's growth and antibodies that strengthen its immune system.
WHO recommends that mothers should continue to breastfeed after the vaccination as none of the current vaccines in use is excreted into breastmilk.
Image Courtesy: Unsplash | Source: WHO
India is encouraging COVID-19 vaccination for all lactating women, based on the recommendations by the country's COVID expert panel.
Image: Unsplash | Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
These recommendations have been made after observing the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging global scientific evidence & experience.
Image: Unsplash | Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Based on how these vaccines work in the body, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies. Therefore, experts suggest lactating mothers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Image Courtesy: Unsplash | Source:CDC
"COVID-19 vaccine is absolutely safe for lactating mothers. There is no need for any fear. There is no need to stop or pause breastfeeding either before or after vaccination": Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog
Image: Unsplash | Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding mothers who have received COVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies.
Image Courtesy: Unsplash | Source: CDC
More data is needed to determine what protection these antibodies may provide to the baby.
Image Courtesy: Unsplash | Source: CDC