KUCHING: The authorities have been reminded not to deny pregnant and breastfeeding mothers especially those who are healthcare workers from getting the Covid-19 vaccine.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Obstetrics and Gynaecology registrar Dr Abigail Rembui Jerip said it is unethical to deny at-risk expectant and lactating mothers to the vaccine, as it is their rights should they opt to be jabbed.
“We feel betrayed after having dedicated ourselves to the fight against the pandemic, only to be denied the vaccine so baselessly,” she told New Sarawak Tribune recently.
Dr Abigail, who is also a breastfeeding advocate, was responding to State Health director Dr Chin Zin Hing’s statement that pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Sarawak would not be included for the Covid-19 vaccination programme in line with World Health Organisation recommendation.
She cited a WHO recommendation that lactating women who are health workers be offered vaccination on an equivalent basis. She also noted that WHO did not recommend mothers to discontinue breastfeeding after vaccination.
