Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr Pradeep de Silva, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of the Castle Street Maternity Hospital Dr. Sanath Lanerolle, Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician of Colombo East Base Hospital Dr Achintha Dissayake and Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician Dr Mayuramana Dewalage addressing the participants. Picture by Sudath Malaweera
The Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association of Sri Lanka yesterday stressed the importance of vaccinating pregnant women against COVID.
Association President Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr Pradeep de Silva said that the Obstetricians and Gynecologists Associations in other countries including the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) also confirmed that there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility and they have recommended anti-COVID vaccines for pregnant and lactating women.
He was speaking at a media conference yesterday at the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Dr Pradeep urged the relevant authorities to take necessary measures to vaccinate pregnant mothers and said that the Association is ready to extend their fullest support to make the vaccination programme a success.
He said that there is no evidence that vaccine administration affects fertility or miscarriage rates.
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of the Castle Street Maternity Hospital Dr. Sanath Lanerolle said that around 360,000 pregnancies are registered every year in Sri Lanka and looking after these mothers is a national responsibility.
Around 1,000 pregnant mothers who are infected with COVID 19 have totally recovered during the past six months.
Majority of COVID positive Pregnant mothers who are in their first 28 weeks of pregnancy are asymptomatic and only five percent of them are at the risk of developing COVID pneumonia.
But pregnant women who are in the latter part of pregnancy and with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, wheezing, heart diseases and increasing age (more than 25) are risk factors for severe COVID in pregnancy.
He said that the pregnant women and their families need to be aware of the increased risk of severe COVID compared to non-pregnant women of the same age and encouraged to follow appropriate safety measures to reduce the risk of infection.
Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician of Colombo East Base Hospital Dr Achintha Dissayake and Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician Dr Mayuramana Dewalage addressed.
