COVID-19 vaccination in women: Your top 17 questions answered
If you are below 39, chances are y'all've either already registered for COVID-nineteen vaccination (and are waiting for your turn) or are undecided virtually getting inoculated because you still accept questions most it.
Well, I am 28, and I happen to fall into both categories. I've registered for vaccination only tin can't shake off the nagging anxiety about its potential effects on me.
I had serious allergic reactions to Panadol equally a kid, and then I worry about whether that would exist an consequence at present. Also, how does taking the COVID-19 vaccine touch whether and when I can take the HPV vaccine (meant to protect against cervical cancer) and my Hepatitis B booster shot?
Other concerns that women in this historic period group are worried about include the suitability of the COVID-19 vaccines for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, looking to conceive, going through cancer-related treatments, suffering from autoimmune diseases and more.
Women are also asking: Which vaccine is more than suitable for me? Or does it not matter?
In that location are several vaccines available to Singaporeans and long-term residents nether the national vaccination programme. The mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) are available for free at designated authorities facilities, while Sinovac, an inactivated vaccine, is available at 24 private clinics in Singapore. The Sinovac vaccine costs from S$10 to S$25 per dose, and has yet to be approved by the Health Sciences Authority.
As Singapore expects a larger supply of vaccines to arrive in the next ii months, the Ministry of Wellness (MOH) has confirmed that information technology volition be receiving a batch called Comirnaty.
Read on for the answers to your questions about COVID-19 vaccination and whether your health or wellbeing could be affected.
WHEN You'RE ON YOUR Menses
What is the best time in my menstrual cycle to get vaccinated?
Yous can get vaccinated at whatever time in your cycle.
Professor Tan Hak Koon, chairman of the Sectionalization of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), said the vaccines practice not worsen pre-menstrual syndrome or affect menstruation period.
READ: Not sure if you can practise during your period? Here's what the experts say
IF You'RE PREGNANT OR TRYING TO Excogitate
Should I annals for the vaccine if I'm significant?
Said Prof Tan: "Pregnant women should seek COVID-nineteen vaccination early on, as they are at college hazard of facing severe complications if they are infected with COVID-19, compared to the non-pregnant population."
Some of these risks include developing serious complications from the affliction, which may involve being in intensive care and needing invasive ventilation. Prof Tan added that there's also a risk of the significant woman developing potentially lethal complications like a blood jell that forms in your leg (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism).
"They also have a doubled hazard of premature nativity if they are symptomatic, and these babies may require neonatal ICU care," said Prof Tan.
How early into my pregnancy tin I take the vaccine?
While there is no restriction in terms of gestational age for vaccination in meaning women, Prof Tan said you lot tin can cull to do it from the 13th week of your pregnancy, as the outset 12 weeks are the nigh crucial period of foetal development.
What is the risk of miscarriage?
Citing data from a United states report published in Apr 2022 involving almost 4,000 pregnant women who had received the vaccine, Prof Tan shared two crucial findings: There was no increased risk of adverse outcomes to both mothers and their unborn babies, and the vaccine was safe to take at whatsoever point in pregnancy.
He added that there was no observed increase in miscarriages, premature births and abnormalities found in babies for women who were vaccinated.
If I'm hoping to conceive within the next few months, will the vaccine bear upon my ability to get significant?
Prof Tan said that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines would adversely bear on fertility. So there's no need to defer plans to start a family; couples should go ahead and go vaccinated.
Should I exist worried if I find out that I'm significant presently afterward getting my kickoff shot? And should I defer the second dose?
Go ahead with the second dose, said Prof Tan, as COVID-19 vaccination has also not been shown to bear upon pregnancy.
If I am going through in-vitro fecundation treatments, would getting the vaccine be an issue?
No, there shouldn't exist an event. Prof Tan said information technology is safe for women seeking fertility treatment to receive the vaccination.
However, he suggested that you also consult your fertility specialist to make an informed determination prior to taking the vaccination.
IF YOU'RE BREASTFEEDING
Should I pump and throw my breast milk or continue to nurse my babe?
Associate Professor Chua Mei Chien, Head and Senior Consultant at KKH'southward Department of Neonatology, said information technology's safety for breastfeeding mums to receive the vaccination and to continue to breastfeed.
"At that place is no need to suspend breastfeeding for v to seven days or to discard breast milk," Assoc Prof Chua, who is likewise the director of the KK Human Milk Depository financial institution, told CNA Lifestyle.
She cited an Israeli report involving 84 breastfeeding women who received the vaccine, which plant that these mothers and infants did not suffer adverse reactions from it.
Referring to the new MOH guidelines issued on May 31, Assoc Prof Chua highlighted that both pregnant women and nursing mothers should receive the vaccine as the risks of COVID-xix infection outweigh the potential risks of vaccination.
The guidelines besides state that yous can go along to breastfeed immediately afterward receiving vaccination.
She added that international organisations such as the World Wellness System, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine in the United states, the U.s.a. Center for Disease Command and Prevention, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK all agree.
They recommend that nursing mums should continue breastfeeding later receiving the COVID-19 vaccine because the mRNA vaccines are unlikely to crusade harm.
KKH'southward Prof Tan pointed out that merely the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use in pregnant and nursing women. There is currently insufficient data on the employ of Sinovac, an inactivated vaccine, in these two groups of women.
Will my baby be able to "share" my antibodies through breast milk?
Assoc Prof Chua told CNA Lifestyle that breastfeeding mums who are vaccinated against COVID-19 not only protect themselves, they provide passive immunisation for their newborns.
According to her, there is now new prove to show that women who are breastfeeding can produce high levels of specific antibodies, which tin can be detected in breast milk as early as 5 to seven days after vaccination.
If y'all're pregnant, your unborn baby benefits too. Prof Tan said that these antibodies are transferred passively across the placenta to the baby in the womb.
READ: 'Within, I was crumbling': How tin can we better support the mental health of mothers?
Will my breast milk supply drop after the vaccination?
Assoc Prof Chua said COVID-19 vaccination has a minimal touch on chest milk supply. But if you choose to defer breastfeeding after vaccination, even though there is no demand to, you are advised to keep upwards with a regular expressing schedule during that time, to ensure that your supply doesn't dip.
And if you lot don't take enough stored milk to feed your baby during the "deferment" period, you tin can contact the KK Human Milk Bank for pasteurised donor human milk (PDHM).
IF You lot HAVE AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
I am worried about flare-ups. Should I go for the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Sinovac vaccine?
The mRNA vaccines might be more than suitable for you.
Associate Professor Piotr Chlebicki, a senior consultant from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), said that in two clinical studies published in Canada (2013) and the Us (2014) that studied the risk cess of viral infections, including influenza, mRNA vaccines turned out to exist more than effective in the general population.
Referring to the two studies, and based on his observation of the number of cases in countries with high vaccination rates, he added that the overall risk of getting inoculated confronting COVID-nineteen is much lower than the impact caused by getting infected by the virus.
He's referring to a flare-up or flare, where the torso's allowed system overreacts to a trigger, in this example, the vaccine. This results in the severe onset of symptoms, from fever to joint pain and fatigue.
An autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system unintentionally attacks healthy cells in the body, causing the body to produce abnormal levels of antibodies. Autoimmune disorders are more mutual in women, resulting in diseases such equally systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Assoc Prof Chlebicki added that studies on patients with autoimmune disorders have only started in recent weeks, so we tin can expect more data from the US, Europe and State of israel, likewise equally Singapore, in the next few months.
However, if you are taking medication that suppresses your immune system, he said that the vaccine may take a diminished effect on yous. Overall, it is even so all-time to get vaccinated when your immune system is weak because some protection is better than no protection at all.
IF YOU ARE GOING FOR SURGERY AND/ OR Have CANCER
Is it safe to get for vaccination after a surgery?
Yes, Prof Tan said, calculation that it's mostly prophylactic as long every bit you have recovered and feel well.
Dr Iain Tan, a senior consultant at the Sectionalization of Medical Oncology at National Cancer Eye Singapore (NCCS), said that the exact timing should be discussed with your surgeon. It would depend on the specific surgery you lot are having, your recovery, as well as if you require any post-surgery treatment, for instance, chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer.
READ: At that place'southward another vaccine y'all should be getting – against cervical and penile cancer
What virtually those going through cancer handling?
The MOH's new guidelines on Jun 19 allow for some 9,000 cancer patients to go for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.
Dr Joline Lim, a consultant from the Department of Haematology-Oncology at National University Cancer Plant, Singapore (NCIS), said that women undergoing cancer treatment (and those with previous drug allergies) should be able to receive treatment safely.
Only she advised y'all to discuss the timing with your treating physician, which may differ depending on the type and aggressiveness of handling.
IF Yous'RE WORRIED Nigh WOMEN-SPECIFIC SIDE EFFECTS AND OTHER VACCINATIONS
If I'1000 planning to have the COVID-19 vaccines in between my HPV shots, can I take both during the same period of time?
A 14-day interval was initially recommended merely NCCS' Dr Tan said the latest guideline on Jun one from the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention in the US now allows for the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines to be administered without regard to timing.
Immature men are reportedly at a college risk of heart inflammation mail service-vaccination. Are in that location potential effects that women should exist aware of?
Currently, at that place is no credible evidence for an increased run a risk of heart inflammation in immature women with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, says Prof Tan.
However, Assoc Prof Chlebicki told CNA Lifestyle that people with immune deficiency (those with a weakened immune system) tend to accept a weaker response to anything from a sinus infection to low claret count – and this includes vaccination. This affects both women and men to a similar extent.
IF Y'all'RE WORRIED ABOUT DRUG ALLERGIES
How can I be sure that I will not have an allergic reaction to the vaccine?
If you are unsure almost your history of specific allergies, it may exist best to follow Dr Tan's general dominion of pollex: The COVID-xix vaccination would non exist recommended only if an individual has an allergy to a component in the vaccine.
Yous can find the list of components for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines at the Health Sciences Potency website, as well as on the respective pharma visitor's websites.
And if you lot're nevertheless unsure nearly your history of specific allergies, Dr Tan said the best affair to practice is speak to a doctor.
According to Prof Tan, if you lot have a known history of astringent anaphylaxis or a known allergy to COVID-xix vaccines or their components, yous should consult an allergist for assessment prior to receiving the vaccination.
I'm not sure if I take whatsoever drug allergies – should I go for a health screening before registering for the vaccination?
There's no need to, said NCCS' Dr Tan.
Merely information technology as well depends on the person'due south age and the so-called risk factors, says SGH's Assoc Prof Chlebicki. For example, a salubrious 25-year-former adult female can proceed with vaccination without going for whatsoever health screenings.
NCIS' Dr Lim too recommended that when the opportunity arises, all women should become screened for chronic atmospheric condition and cancer.
Dr Tan and Dr Lim say that if you're going for breast cancer screening, that you wait four to six weeks after your 2d jab before getting a mammogram. This is because COVID-19 vaccination may cause swollen lymph nodes, which tin can be mistaken as an early sign of cancer.
Dr Tan added: "But if yous take meaning symptoms such as a lump or nipple discharge, consult a breast surgeon early on and practise not wait four to 6 weeks afterward COVID-19 vaccination to become checked."
READ: Commentary: The struggle mums in their 30s, 40s face up juggling young kids and work is real
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/covid-19-vaccination-singapore-women-want-these-15-questions-249171
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