Weeks before Elizabeth Espinal, five months pregnant, rolled up her sleeves to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the neurosurgery researcher discussed her confidence in the injection with her husband, Santos, a chef.
“He had some reservations that are common for people who are not in the medical field,” the future mom who lives in Queens told the Post. “But I wanted him to be comfortable with the decision too, because we are in this together.”
Until finally decided, Espinals were among the growing number of pregnant parents having to struggle with the pros and cons as the vaccine launch continues – especially since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not yet made recommendations whether pregnant women should be inoculated or not.
Northwell Health employee Espinal, 36, added: “We thought about it a lot and got collective opinions from my OB-GYN and the doctors I work closely with.
“I see things very scientifically, weighing the risks like contracting COVID-19 and documented cases of premature birth [the disease has caused]. All roads pointed to obtaining the photo, as there are no real risks associated with [pregnant women receiving] this, in addition to [the side effects that would impact] anyone who got the vaccine, ”she said.
So far, the CDC has only said that the vaccine is “unlikely to pose a risk to pregnant women” and that those “who are pregnant and are part of a group recommended to receive the coronavirus vaccine, such as health professionals, can choose to be vaccinated. ”
The centers’ stance was adopted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Both organizations recommend that patients consult their doctor about the risks and benefits of the vaccine.
SMFM spokeswoman Dr. Jacqueline Parchem, a specialist in maternal and fetal medicine who will give birth to her third child in February, I recently used Twitter to powerfully express your personal opinion on the subject.
The 38-year-old woman shared a photo of herself being injected at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, the hospital where she works in Houston. Another photo shows the obstetrician gynecologist holding a patch to fill in the gaps – “I have the vaccine for: all pregnant ppl!”, She wrote.
She told the Post that her social media campaign had three objectives: to lay the science behind the vaccine in layman’s terms, to offer guarantees about her safety and to show how she leads by example.
“We are in a very difficult time, when it is difficult to distinguish good information from bad and where reliable sources are,” said Parchem. “Doctors are now delivering unambiguous public health messages to address vaccine hesitation.”
Uniformed antivaxxers chased Parchem in search of her online position, but she can handle the attacks: “[Their] comments come from a place of fear because there is no scientific basis, ”she said. “I have not received a negative comment from anyone who has been able to articulate his real concern with me.”
In her tweets, the expert notes that “it is difficult to find any other medical intervention that works THAT well”, adding: “Unfortunately, I know the risks of COVID in pregnancy and I have seen many pregnant patients with serious illness”.
She said she was frustrated by the lack of probative research on pregnant women and the vaccine due to the group’s usual exclusion from these types of tests. However, no female participants who became pregnant during the test – nor the babies they gave birth to – have shown negative results so far.
“However, there is a proven risk of an increase in serious illnesses [due to COVID] among pregnant women, leading to a greater need for care in the ICU, mechanical ventilation and potentially death, ”said Parchem. “If the pregnant woman becomes ill or dies, the fetus is not well.
“It is an uncomfortable thought to have, but, as one of mine [medical peers] spelled: ‘Death crosses the placenta.’
“When you put it all together, you need to be vaccinated.”
Manhattan resident Elaina Preston, an 11-week pregnant medical assistant who works with highly immunocompromised patients, was quick to take that advice.
She received her second dose on January 7 after examining the vaccine’s studies and consulting her reproductive medicine doctor, obstetrician gynecologist and experienced colleagues.
“I was relieved to be eligible, especially as I have moderate persistent asthma,” said Preston, 38, the mother of a 1-year-old son. “I now have more confidence in working in a hospital environment, knowing that the majority of my co-workers will also be vaccinated.”
Recalling the moment he received his first dose, on December 18, the medical professional admitted “a slight feeling of anxiety for being one of the first pregnant women to be vaccinated”.
But with a master’s in public health and training in clinical research, she trusts the data.
“I am very happy because, after all the terrible things that happened in 2020, I am taking a step that moves us towards a better future.”