8 September 2021 09:17 pm Views - 4942
Health specialists today advised women to delay their pregnancy by one year if possible due to the spread of the Delta Covid variant.
Gynaecologist of the De Soysa Maternity Hospital for women Dr. Harsha Atapattu told a news conference of the Health Promotion Bureau that lives of both the mother and the infant were at risk because of the Delta variant.
"I would request the newly married women and women who already have children to use family planning and delay their pregnancy by one year if possible. Covid is a new disease. We know a little of it by now. After a year, we will know how this virus will affect the mothers and the infants. More effective vaccines may also be available by then," he said.
Dr. Atapattu also requested all pregnant mothers irrespective of their stage to receive a vaccine without being choosy.
"We earlier requested only the pregnant mothers above 30 years with high blood pressure or diabetes to receive the vaccine. Later, we advised pregnant mothers at 32 weeks of pregnancy to receive the vaccine. Now, we advise all pregnant mothers to receive the vaccine due to the spread of the delta variant," he said.
He said pregnant mothers at the de Soysa Maternity Hospital were provided with Covid vaccine three days a week.(Ajith Siriwardana)