NEW journals by renowned Zimbabwe’s Public Health Expert Dr Grant Murewenhema et al has revealed huge gaps in vaccination among women of reproductive age from resource constrained settings such as Zimbabwe.
By Michael Gwarisa
The two papers one on Vaccination hesitancy among women of reproductive age in resource-challenged settings: a cause for public health concern and COVID-19 Vaccination for pregnant women in Zimbabwe: a public health challenge that needs an urgent discourse both try to look at how pregnant and women and those of reproductive age are responding to the prevailing vaccination drive.
According to the journal findings, vaccine hesitancy among Women of Reproductive Age and pregnant women were largely due to lack of clear eligibility guidelines for pregnant women misconceptions from information being peddled by conspiracy theorists amongst a host of other issues.
Pregnant women are a population group with distinct concerns in relation to the uptake of vaccines. Unfortunately, evidence points towards a greater risk of adverse outcomes from COVID-19 in this population.
“Key considerations include the potential effects of vaccines on the foetus, development of pregnancy, fertility, and beyond pregnancy on aspects such as consideration with regards to breastfeeding and long-term effects on their children. Safety concerns are a key driver of vaccine hesitancy in this group, as the decision to take up the vaccine requires weighting the potential benefits versus the perceived risks to both the mother and the foetus/baby,” the Journal indicated.
According to the paper, without clear consensus or guidelines with regards to vaccination, some healthcare practitioners can also be reluctant to advise or administer vaccines to pregnant and breastfeeding womens.
“It is therefore not surprising that in Zimbabwe there have been widespread social media reports of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst the population including pregnant and breastfeeding women, propagated by circulating myths, misconceptions and rumours regarding the safety of the vaccines in this population.
“Currently in Zimbabwe there is no policy position on the provision of COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant and breastfeeding women, resulting in most pregnant and breastfeeding women being turned away from vaccination centres. There is need for an urgent discussion around ways to address the challenge posed by vaccine hesitancy in pregnant and breastfeeding women, and of clear consensus and guidelines to support healthcare workers involved in vaccination.”
Meanwhile, current vaccines in Zimbabwe have not yet been adequately tested in pregnancy and their effects on the developing foetus are unknown. There is also currently no evidence that the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are harmful in pregna- ncy.
“However, clinical trials are in the pipeline that will determine their safety profiles in pregnancy. Meanwhile, several messages have been distributed across different social media linking vaccines to miscarriages, giving birth to children with abnormalities and other adverse outcomes. No mother would want to lose their unborn child and some dread the trauma of having to look after a child with disability.
“Many mothers in resource-limited settings are aware of a family that looks after a child with a disability, such as cerebral palsy, or Down´s syndrome and would never want a similar experience. Some developed countries that commenced vaccination earlier discouraged or advised breastfeeding women against being vaccinated, without any concretely supporting evidence. Theoretically, COVID-19 vaccines could be beneficial to a breastfeeding child due to transfer of antibodies, providing passive immunity. However, this is not yet adequately explored. Mothers are heavily protective of their babies and the circulating misconception that vaccinating breastfeeding mothers can harm their babies may negatively influence the uptake of vaccines by WRA.”
Access Journals Here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34285758/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666535221001257#!