Prioritizing Pregnant Women for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination in African Countries.
Clin Infect Dis
; 75(8): 1462-1466, 2022 10 12.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36130226
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnancy is associated with excess maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in both African and higher-resource settings. Furthermore, mounting evidence demonstrates the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women and infants. However, national guidelines in many African countries are equivocal or lack recommendations on COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy. We summarize key data on COVID-19 epidemiology and vaccination among pregnant African women to highlight major barriers to vaccination and recommend 4 interventions. First, policymakers should prioritize pregnant women for COVID-19 vaccination, with a target of 100% coverage. Second, empirically supported public health campaigns should be sustainably implemented to inform and support pregnant women and their healthcare providers in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Third, COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women should be expanded to include antenatal care, obstetrics/gynecology, and targeted mass vaccination campaigns. Fourth, national monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19 vaccine uptake, safety, surveillance, and prospective outcomes assessment should be conducted.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Clin Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2022
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States