Lactating Mothers can get Covid-19 Vaccine, says NITI Aayog

By: WE Staff | Monday, 24 May 2021

Healthcare experts have stated that a woman can be vaccinated against Covid-19 at any time after the delivery of her baby and have emphasised the importance of allowing vaccination of pregnant women to protect them from the infection.  Lactating mothers can now be vaccinated.

The NITI Aayog Member (Health) has stated that breastfeeding is not a problem after vaccination and that it should not be stopped "even for an hour."

According to Dr. Khan Amir Maroof, Professor, Department of Community Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital in Delhi, a vaccinated, breastfeeding mother poses no risk to the neonate.

"There is no reason to delay the vaccination after delivery," he said.

Furthermore, he stated that lactating women do not need to take any special precautions in regard to vaccination, and that the same precautions that apply to the general population apply to them as well.

Vaccination can be done at any stage of the menstrual cycle, according to Dr. Loveleena Nadir, senior consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at Fortis La Femme, Rosewalk Hospital, and Apollo Cradle Royale.

"Covid-19 is not an indication for caesarean delivery but there has been an increased frequency of pre-term births and caesarean deliveries, probably due to maternal illness associated with Covid-19 infection. If one has recovered from Covid infection, defer vaccination for 3 months from date of recovery," she said.

Dr Jaideep Malhotra, former president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and founder of the Infertility Centre of Rainbow IVF, said this fact should be circulated that the vaccines available in India right now do not contain live virus, hence are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and will not cause any more serious side effects like abortions or congenital malformations.