At least three pregnant women who were recently hospitalized with coronavirus complications have contracted the British version of the pathogen, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday evening.
Healthcare workers treating the COVID-19 patient at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer
(Photo: AFP)
At the request of the head of public health services of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sharon Elrai-Price, several samples from women were sent to the Central Virology Laboratory of the ministry at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, where preliminary DNA sequencing results have showed the presence of the mutation. .
Meanwhile, healthcare providers announced on Tuesday night that the national vaccination initiative COVID-19 will soon be expanded to include pregnant women.
Health care organizations (HMOs) reported that they received many questions on the last day from women who want to be vaccinated, as reports were mounted about mothers expecting positive COVID who are hospitalized in serious condition.
The Ministry of Health issued a statement stressing that the vaccine does not pose a threat to pregnant women.
Citizens queuing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Tel Aviv
“According to experts, there is no biological mechanism that could harm the mother or fetus,” the statement said. Women who received the vaccine without knowing they were pregnant did not report any abnormal effects during pregnancy compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
Pregnant women were not previously included in the priority groups for the vaccine and could not set up a meeting to get the shot. In the past, Health Ministry regulations even banned administration during pregnancy because it was not tested on pregnant women during clinical trials.
COVID-19 vaccine vials
(Photo: AFP)
Meanwhile, a seven-month-old pregnant woman, aged seven months, was transferred earlier to Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, while doctors are fighting for her life. She gave birth by cesarean section and is now hospitalized in a very serious condition. The baby is in stable condition.
A five-month-old woman was admitted to the intensive care unit in Sheba and another woman was taken to the intensive care unit at Laniado Hospital in Netanya.
Four women pregnant with coronavirus have been hospitalized in recent days at Maayana Hayeshua Hospital in Bnei Brak, one of whom has gone into labor. The four needed respiratory support, but were not given oxygen.