Covid-19: Israel extends vaccination to pregnant women
An Israeli woman receives a dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Dimona in southern Israel (illustrative image).
AP - Tsafrir Abayov
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
In mid-February, the Israeli health authorities recommended the vaccination of pregnant women against Covid-19.
A month later, a first study reveals excellent results.
The Pfizer BioNtech vaccine used in the country is 97% effective and protects both mother and unborn child.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
Daniella is 26 years old, she is four months pregnant.
“
I was very worried and really wanted to get the vaccine.
Lately we have heard a lot about pregnant women who have lost their lives due to Covid.
For me, this virus is more dangerous than the vaccine,
”she said.
It was Yoel, Daniella's husband, who drove her to the vaccination center.
He has already received his two doses last January.
“
At first, they recommended immunizing pregnant women after the first trimester of pregnancy, because early in pregnancy, that is where there is a risk of miscarriages generally.
And they didn't want people to blame the vaccine if there was a problem.
But this recommendation was very quickly abandoned and women in early pregnancy were vaccinated,
”he explains.
In the medical center, no queues, no waiting.
As soon as she arrived, Daniella was already vaccinated.
“
Now I have to wait 15 minutes here to make sure I don't react badly to the vaccine.
Afterwards, I can go home.
At the moment, I feel good and hope that I don't have any side effects.
Anyway, I took a day off tomorrow just in case… so, it's going to be okay
”.
Side effects are usually flu-like symptoms and fatigue.
But thanks to vaccination, mothers are protected and children are born with antibodies to Covid-19, according to Israeli researchers.
► See also: Covid-19: in Israel, encouraging results two months after the start of vaccination
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Coronavirus