WHO changes guidance for Moderna vaccine and pregnant women, local doctor’s take

The World Health Organization has changed its guidance for one of the Covid vaccines and pregnant women.

Last week, the WHO said it did not recommend pregnant women get the Moderna vaccine, unless they were at severe risk of exposure. This advice echoed the organization’s statement about the Pfizer vaccine.

At the time, Dr. David McKenna, a maternal fetal medicine doctor from Miami Valley Hospital explained, he thought pregnant women should still get the shot. https://www.whio.com/news/covid-vaccine-safe-pregnant-women-those-breastfeeding/CIGJNSJ7B5EDLHJRICSSJ3HPQ4/

This went against the WHO’s advice. Since Dr. McKenna’s interview, the organization has changed its direction for the Moderna vaccine.

The WHO’s website now says “based on what we know about this kind of vaccine, we don’t have any specific reason to believe there will be specific risks that would outweigh the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women.”

Dr. Roberto Colón, the associate chief medical officer from Miami Valley Hospital, welcomes the change.

“It’s something that we’ve been pushing for ever since that surprise announcement came out from the WHO. This is something that absolutely has the potential to be very beneficial to pregnant women,” Dr. Colón said.

While the WHO changed its position for the Moderna vaccine, it has not made the same adjustment for the Pfizer vaccine.

“That was a bit surprising, especially given the fact that both of these are using the same technology,” Dr. Colón said. “We are recommending that we manage both of these in a very similar manner until data suggesting otherwise comes up.”

He explained, all of the data available shows getting Covid while pregnant poses a greater risk to the mother and baby than getting the vaccines.

Cox Media Group