The World Health Organization on Friday reversed its guidance on pregnant women receiving the coronavirus vaccine created by Moderna, now saying it recommends the vaccine for pregnant women.
“Although pregnancy puts women at greater risk for severe COVID-19, little data is available to assess the safety of the vaccine in pregnancy. However, based on what we know about this type of vaccine, we have no specific reason to believe it. There will be specific risks that would outweigh the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women, “said WHO in the updated guide.
The change comes after the global health agency faced criticism for its stance in conflict with CDC guidance. Experts also expressed concerns that inconsistent information could confuse pregnant women in the hope of whether they should be vaccinated against COVID-19 or not.
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The move comes just days after WHO initially said it did not recommend the Jab de Moderna for pregnant women “unless they are at high risk of exposure to the new disease, as health professionals”.
The updated posture of WHO is in accordance with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which informs on its website that “people who are pregnant and are part of a group recommended to receive the vaccine COVID-19 can opt for vaccination. “
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Neither the Modern vaccine nor the one created by Pfizer-BioNTech has been tested on pregnant women. But “no safety concerns have been demonstrated in mice that received [the] The Modern COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy, “says the CDC, noting that” studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are ongoing. “
The Moderna jab, like the one created by Pfizer, does not contain a live virus; they were created using innovative mRNA technology.
MRNA vaccines “do not interact with a person’s DNA because mRNA does not enter the cell nucleus. Cells break down mRNA quickly. Based on how mRNA vaccines work, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk specific for people who are pregnant, “continues the CDC.
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However, the agency notes: “The actual risks of mRNA vaccines for pregnant women and their fetuses are unknown because these vaccines have not been studied in pregnant women.”
The change comes after the global health agency faced criticism for its stance in conflict with CDC guidance. Experts also expressed concerns that inconsistent information could confuse pregnant women in the hope of whether they should be vaccinated against COVID-19 or not.
WHO did not immediately return Fox News’ request to comment on what prompted the change.
Studies are underway on the effects that COVID-19 may have on pregnant women. That said, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health published earlier this week suggests that pregnant women who contract severe COVID-19 disease face an increased risk of death and premature birth compared to those with asymptomatic cases of the disease.
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The study follows previous findings from the CDC, which state that pregnant women who contract the coronavirus are more at risk of serious illness and death than non-pregnant women.
Fox News’s Kayla Rivas contributed to this report.