Recently The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), revised it COVID vaccination guidelines and in it they mentioned that, COVID-19 vaccines can be administered to Lactating Mothers. This decision was taken as per the recommendations made by the National Expert Group of Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC).

Well, it is must to know that in clinical trials of both the COVID vaccine currently administered in India, COVISHEILD and COVAXIN, lactating mothers or pregnant women were not included. And this is the prime reason behind the question on whether it is good to vaccinate a lactating mother or not?

While healthcare experts do support this development, there is still a bit of suspicion among around it!

What Healthcare Experts Say? 

Many healthcare experts, even pediatrician and gynecologists are supporting this development. They agree on the matter that a lactating mother can be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr Prasanna Bhat, a Delhi-based pediatrician, says that there is no harm on vaccinating a lactating mother against COVID-19, instead it is beneficial as it will develop antibodies against the disease in their immune system as well as in the breast milk , which will be good for both the mother and her child.

The same views were shared by other two experts doctors, Dr Neeraj Lal, Group Senior Vice President, Medicover India and renowned virologist Dr Gagandeep Kang.

Dr Sanish Davis, President, Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR), also agreed that getting breastfeeding women vaccinated is getting protection for two, and he also mentioned that there is no disadvantage for lactating women getting vaccinated as compared to the general group.

The Co-Chair – Global Council, International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), DR JP Dadhich, agreed on the same and his thoughts were also similar to the previous mentioned experts. He said that currently, COVID-19 vaccine is not recommended in children, thus they can receive antibodies from their mother through the breast milk.

What About No Clinical Trials? 

People have doubts because, during the clinical trials and human trials of both the COVID vaccine, COVISHEILD and COVAXIN, lactating mother or pregnant women were not included. So basically, there is report or study of how would a vaccine react with the immune system of a lactating mother, what would be its side-effects and other things.

Healthcare experts expressed their word on why the lactating mother or pregnant women were not included in the clinical trials. The renowned virologist, Dr Kang said, “The vaccines specifically made in India have not undergone any clinical trial on lactating women. Our system wants companies to develop vaccines, but if something goes wrong, where both the mother and the baby are affected, there are liability, insurance, and compensation issues. So, it wants the treatment but doesn’t want the risk. Hence, when companies enroll for clinical trials, they rule out pregnant women. Now by doing this, we are doing the right thing in protecting women during the trial, but we are doing the wrong thing by not testing a product that is likely to help them.”

She further added that if the trials are conducted in adults and nothing happens to them, then it should be made mandatory to include some pregnant women too.

Inactive Virus Vaccine Cause No Harm………

Health experts say that none of the two vaccines currently being administered in India, are live-virus vaccine, instead they are being prepared with the spike protein, that is a time-tested old technology to prepare vaccine with killed virus. Thus, one is obvious that this inactivated virus would hardly cause any damage to the individual who gets the vaccine.

Regarding the lactating mothers, Dr Dadhich, said that the COVID vaccines administered currently in India are non-live-virus vaccine, that are not accepted to be excreted into breastmilk or observed by the infant. He further said that till date there are no reports or studies for adverse effects of inactivated vaccines in infant through breastfeeding. In fact, non-live vaccines, like flu vaccine, are considered safe, and, therefore, routinely used in lactating women.

Dr Kang Further said that, healthcare experts do not expect any safety issues for pregnant women or lactating mother when it comes to vaccine as they contain inactivated virus. She further said that although, in India we didn’t included lactating mother or pregnant women in the clinical trials, but there is ample data though different parts of the world, on pregnant women who were vaccinated during pregnancy as well as on lactating women. There has been no concern whatsoever shown in the reports.

Let Us Conclude! 

As the government in its guidelines has directed for lactating mothers to get vaccinated against COVID-19, people have become concerned and all the matter is revolving around only thing and that is, if lactating mothers or pregnant women were not included in the clinical trials, how can they be vaccinated with COVID vaccine.

Well, amid this pandemic and its aftermaths stories in our country, it is clear that for each and every individual, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a need of this hour. And so, it is important for lactating mothers and pregnant women. However, we advise that before you take any lactating mother or pregnant women to get COVID-19 vaccine, do consult your doctor or a gynecologist, then only move forward.

Stay Informed! Get Vaccinated! Stay Safe! 

Thank You!