By Chantalé Fletcher
THE Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines will be administered to pregnant women who have completed their first trimester from Wednesday.
This was revealed by the Director of Women’s Health, Dr Adesh Sirjusingh at the Ministry of Health virtual presser on Monday.
He said the vaccine will be available at all vaccination sites currently administering the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for persons between the ages of 12 and 18 and more sites will be added as needed.
Dr Sirjusingh said, “We are recommending the use of the Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women regardless of nationality after they have completed the first trimester, week 13 and onwards. We divide pregnancies into trimesters with 14 weeks being the due date that is worked out for you.”
He added that the process was based on the advice of women’s health care providers.
Dr Sirjusingh further explained the documentation process for a patient to access the vaccine.
“You are not allowed to simply turn up to the site. You have to go through your anti-neonatal provider, be it in the private sector, general practitioner or specialist obstetrician and gynecologist, local health centre or from a hospital.”
He said there was a new form along with identification cards and anti-neonatal records that must be carried to the vaccination sites.
Dr Sirjusingh said, “When pregnant women get to the site, indicate to the ushers and staff that you are pregnant and they will assist in fast-tracking you to get your vaccination.”
He said women can access the normal vaccination form at the Ministry of Health’s website which will make the process faster.
In reference to pregnant women from the private sector, he said, “Doctors can write a letter for patients stating they are indeed pregnant, who the patient is and that they have crossed 12 completed weeks, then week 13 and beyond.”
Dr Sirjusingh said, “You will be observed for approximately 20 minutes following vaccination.”
For young mothers under the age of 18, the procedure would be the same for persons being vaccinated between the 12 to 18 age group, he added.
Regarding the vaccines that are approved for pregnant women, Dr Sirjusingh said to avoid confusion, Trinidad and Tobago was using only the Pfizer in its initial rollout.
He said, “At this time, we are sticking with the Pfizer for our pregnant women and we are expecting more Pfizer. We will not change our process but we do have that option because several of the other vaccines are indeed approved for pregnancy.”
Dr Sirjusingh said that contrary to what messages were being displayed on social media, the vaccines were safe for pregnant women and women wanting to become pregnant especially those who were deemed high risk such as women over the age of 35 and those with a comorbidity.
