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The Standing Vaccination Commission (Stiko) has slightly changed its vaccination recommendations for pregnant women.
In the current version of May 12, it now states that pregnant women with an increased risk of exposure due to their living conditions could now receive an mRNA vaccine from the second trimester after the risk-benefit assessment and after detailed information.
The Stiko continues to refrain from making a general vaccination recommendation for pregnant women.
The reason for this is the continuing lack of studies for this group of people.
With the amended formulation in the vaccination recommendations, Stiko is bowing to the increasing pressure from specialist societies and interest groups.
"Generous recommendation after individual examination"
The topic came up again this week after Marianne Röbl-Mathieu, Stiko member and representative of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), gave the Funke media group an interview in which she described the adaptation of the past week as a success . "It is a signal to politicians, but also to the gynecologists in charge, that a vaccination can be generously recommended to pregnant women after an individual examination," she said. Pregnant women could show a corresponding letter to the family doctor or the vaccination center if the gynecologist does not carry out the vaccination themselves. According to Röbl-Mathieu, pregnant women fall into priority group 3, which already includes contact persons for pregnant women.
How the vaccination doctor interprets the modified Stiko recommendation is a matter of interpretation.
"Pregnant women who have small children in daycare are also at an increased risk of exposure," a DGGG spokeswoman told SPIEGEL.
Professional associations and interest groups have long been calling for pregnant women to be included in the prioritization groups for a Covid-19 vaccination, since according to current surveys they may have an increased risk of severe Covid-19 courses.
According to the Stiko, pregnant women with previous illnesses should already be prioritized for vaccinations.
Pregnant women can also specify two contact persons who can then be vaccinated in priority group 3.
Studies examining the effectiveness and safety of corona vaccines in pregnant women are still ongoing.
First results indicate a good tolerance.
In other countries, such as Austria, Israel, France and Great Britain, pregnant women are therefore already recommended to have a Covid vaccination.
kry / Reuters
