Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said on Friday that Covid-19 vaccine should be given to pregnant women as it is useful for them.
“The Ministry of Health has given the guideline that vaccine can be given to pregnant women. Vaccination is useful in pregnant women, and it should be given,” he said.
While addressing a press conference on the Covid-19 situation in the country, Bhargava said that only one country is giving the Covid-19 vaccine to children. He said that a small study on children in the 2-18 age group has been conducted, and results are likely to come in by September.
Whether very small children will ever need the vaccine, is still a question, Bhargava said. Until such time we have more data on vaccination of children, we won’t be able to vaccinate children at large, he added. The government will soon release guidelines for vaccination of pregnant women against Covid-19. Currently, only lactating women in India have been recommended to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
