Last Updated on May 12, 2021, 6:29 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Brazilian health regulator has recommended that officials stop giving AstraZeneca Plc Cstraid-19 shots to pregnant women as authorities investigate the death of a woman in Rio de Janeiro who received the vaccine.
Anvisa, as the index is known, stated that the use of the vaccine on pregnant women ‘should be suspended immediately, according to a statement on its website late Monday.
The Ministry of Health declared in a statement on Tuesday that Rio de Janeiro officials had been notified of the incident and are probing the alleged death, which was first reported by the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
The ministry said the incidence of adverse effects was ‘extremely rare and lower than the risks posed by Covid-19’ and that pregnant women would continue to be recommended to be vaccinated. But the vaccination of those without co-morbidities needs to be reconsidered.
The state of Sao Paulo has temporarily suspended the vaccination of pregnant women with previous medical conditions following Anvisa’s recommendation. New guidelines will be announced after the Ministry of Health and Anvisa released further findings, the local government said in a note.
In an email response to questions, an Astra spokesman said, “pre-clinical studies do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects related to pregnancy or fetal development, but these studies are continuing.” Pregnant and breastfeeding women were eliminated from the company’s trials.
AstraZeneca is one of the two more available shots in the country, with 212 million people. Brazil, which has fully immunized 8.6% of its inhabitants, recently moved pregnant women into the priority category for inoculations and urged women to delay pregnancy amid a rising toll on new mothers.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
