Nurses’ roles in promoting COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic from late December 2019 through 2021 had occurred rapidly and aggressively, with large numbers of cases and deaths, including pregnant women. It was also found that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may also lead to miscarriage, preterm delivery, and death. The COVID-19 vaccination campaign was launched pregnant women population with the aim to reduce infection, progression to more severe disease, and mortality rates. According to previous studies, they found that the COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the incidence of deaths. However, the pregnant women are still lack of understanding and unacceptable of the COVID-19 vaccines due to the vaccine has not been tested in pregnant women. There is only indication point that using the vaccine has no risk to pregnant women. For literature review from domestic and international resources in 2019 to 2021 by 19 articles, it has been found that to date clinical studies to establish a safety of COVID-19 vaccines pregnant women have been limited. There has been no evidence indicating that there is a higher risk in pregnant women than the general population when it comes to vaccination against COVID-19 infection. In general, the risk-benefit assessment of COVID-19 vaccination has suggested that expected benefits from vaccination still outweigh potential risks for side effects. Nurses therefore have had an important role in encouraging pregnant women to receive COVID-19 vaccine. This also include performing screening of pregnant women, providing education, raising awareness about COVID-19, ensuring safety and good health practices, as well as staying updated on the latest development of COVID-19 situations. All this will be achieved taking into consideration the ethical, benefit and justice principles. This is used as nursing practice guideline to prevent infection and reduce the consequences that may arise when an infection occurs.