Chennai, June 1(BPNS)
Doctors of Tamil Nadu including gynecologists and immunization experts are of the opinion that pregnant women need to be vaccinated on a priority basis. The doctors and public health experts of Tamil Nadu are of the opinion that with the number of pregnant women and new mothers dying due to Covid-19 in the second wave, there is an urgent need to inoculate these women.
Senior doctors from Tamil Nadu are now requesting the Central government to permit vaccination of pregnant women on a priority basis.
A report from the Tamil Nadu state, Public health department states that the number of deaths of pregnant women and new mothers due to Covid -19 has increased when compared to March –December 2020. While the number of deaths of pregnant women and new mothers due to Covid -19 during March- December 2020 was 9, in the last two months of April and May, the number of deaths reported in Tamil Nadu is 20.
Dr. Manonmani Arun, a senior gynecologist with a private hospital in Madurai while speaking to BPNS said, “During the second wave of the pandemic we are seeing an increased number of pregnant women and new mothers losing their lives owing to Covid-19. I feel that there is an urgent need to vaccinate these women and I do appeal to the TN Public health department to request the union government to inoculate these women on a priority basis.”
The customs and rituals associated with pregnancy which is rampant in Tamil Nadu leads to people attending these functions and pregnant women are at a high risk of contracting the disease.
Dr. Rajani Varrier, a Gyneacolgoist with a Chennai private hospital while speaking to BPNS said, “ The need of the hour is urgent vaccination of pregnant women. Last week a 29-year-old lady doctor died due to Covid in a city hospital here after she contracted pneumonia. The state health department and Government of Tamil Nadu must appeal to the Government of India to allow vaccination of pregnant women with immediate effect.”
She adds,” We are inoculating new mothers, but the risk for pregnant women is still there and they should be given vaccination on a priority basis.”
The state public health department is also worried over the increasing cases of Covid -19 among pregnant women and sources in the department confirmed with BPNS that a request will be sent to the Union government for permitting vaccination among pregnant women.
