“Vaccination, with primary and booster, third and fourth dose, is the safest and most effective way to protect pregnant women and their children from Covid-19”, and is recommended to all pregnant women at any time during the gestation and during lactation, without the need to interrupt it. These, in summary, are the indications of the Higher Institute of Health (ISS), updated “in light of the new vaccines available and the introduction of the second booster dose (fourth dose) also for this category of people”, published today.
The indications on anti-Covid vaccination in pregnancy and breastfeeding have been updated by the Italian obstetric surveillance system (Itoss) of the ISS “in support of the provisions of the circular of the Ministry of Health of 7 September”, relating to the new bivalent vaccines. So, reports the ISS, “Primary vaccination and booster doses (third and fourth doses) with mRna vaccines are recommended for all pregnant women at any time in gestation, especially in case of greater risk of developing a serious Covid-19 disease (women with risk factors such as over 30, Bmi> 30 kg / m2, comorbidities, citizenship of countries with high migratory pressure). The booster dose with bivalent formulation of the Comirnaty Original / Omicron * and Spikevax Original / Omicron * mRna vaccines (fourth dose) is recommended in pregnancy – it is specified – in the dosages authorized for the purpose “.
It is also recalled that, between the “booster dose and the last previous dose of an anti-Covid vaccine or the previous Sars-CoV-2 infection, an interval of at least 120 days must elapse” and that “the primary and booster doses can be administered at the same time as vaccinations recommended during pregnancy against influenza and whooping cough “.
And again, “the primary vaccination and booster doses (third and fourth dose) with mRna vaccines are recommended for all breastfeeding women, without the need to stop breastfeeding“. Even in breastfeeding” the booster dose with bivalent formulation of mRna vaccines is recommended in the dosages authorized for the purpose “, and an interval of at least 120 days must elapse between the booster and the last previous dose or previous infection.
“Primary vaccination and booster doses (third and fourth dose) with mRna vaccines – underline the ISS indications – they do not expose the infant to risks and allow it to take antibodies against Sars-CoV-2 through milk“. It is also specified that” the vaccination schedule of a nursing infant from a vaccinated mother does not foresee any changes “.
“As for the general population, mRna vaccines have been particularly effective in preventing serious Covid-19 disease for pregnant women”, conclude the authors of the indications. “Thanks to the current availability of numerically consistent data, international public health agencies argue that vaccination, with primary and booster cycles, is the safest and most effective way to protect pregnant women and their children from Covid-19”.