The Israel Midwives Association, which represents the 1,400 midwives in Israel's public hospitals, calls on all pregnant women between 36-27 weeks to come immediately to the health fund to be vaccinated against whooping cough.
The Midwives Association explains: "It is essential to receive the vaccine towards the end of pregnancy in order to protect the baby when he comes into the world. Protection is carried out through pertussis antibodies which develop effectively, pass through the placenta and provide protection after birth in the first four months of the baby's life. The ideal time is 27-36 weeks pregnant."
Maternity ward at Sheba. (The subjects have no connection to the content of the article), Photo: Yossi Zeliger
The Midwives Association emphasizes: "Vaccinating mothers is very effective in preventing whooping cough in infants. The vaccines are safe, have been proven by research and there is no scientific evidence of any harm that may be caused to the fetus or pregnancy. If you are already 27 weeks old, please get vaccinated immediately. The vaccine is included in the health basket and is given free of charge."
The Midwives Association is currently promoting the model of continuous pregnancy accompaniment for women together with the Ministry of Health, the HMOs and the Israeli Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, with an emphasis on accessibility and realization of medical rights, as well as the creation of a personal protocol, for each woman throughout the pregnancy and not only at the peak moment of birth. At the implementation stage, the meetings between the midwife and the woman will also include a professional discourse on the importance of vaccinations.
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