Brazil suspends use of AstraZeneca vaccine for pregnant women
Brazil s federal government on Tuesday nationally suspended the vaccination of pregnant women with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 shot, after an expectant mother in Rio de Janeiro died from a stroke possibly related to the inoculation, Reuters reported.
Franciele Francinato, coordinator of the Health Ministry s vaccination program, told reporters the suspension was enacted as a precautionary measure after health regulator Anvisa issued a warning about the vaccine s use in pregnant women earlier in the day.
Authorities are investigating the incident. The suspension applies only to AstraZeneca s shot and not to vaccines developed by Sinovac and Pfizer Inc that are also being used in the country.
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Brazilian States Suspend AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine for Pregnant Women After Death
Several Brazilian states on Tuesday halted the use of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women after a woman who had received the vaccine died, according to a report.
ANVISA, the countries’ National Health Surveillance Agency, recommended the “immediate suspension” of the vaccine for pregnant women in a statement issued late on Monday, without providing many details.
The health regulator cited that the recommendation was the result of “constant monitoring of adverse events related to COVID vaccines in use in the country.”
Brazil’s Sao Paulo has temporarily paused the use of the vaccine for pregnant women with previous medical conditions and Rio de Janeiro suspended it for all pregnant women, Reuters reported.
Mohamad Hamzah/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Brazilian states halted vaccination of pregnant women on Tuesday after a death in Rio de Janeiro led health regulator Anvisa to warn against the use of AstraZeneca s Covid-19 vaccine for expecting mothers.
A pregnant woman in Rio de Janeiro died after receiving the AstraZeneca shot, according to state Health Secretary Alexandre Chieppe, in a case authorities are still investigating.
Sao Paulo state suspended Covid-19 vaccination for pregnant women with risk factors and Rio state suspended immunization of all pregnant women. Both states cited the Anvisa recommendation as a reason for the decision.
Asked about the suspension, AstraZeneca said in a statement that pregnant women and those breastfeeding were excluded from clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine. Studies in animals did not produce direct or indirect evidence of harm regarding pregnancy or fetal development, the statement added.
It is too soon to tell wehether this new strain is deadlier than the Manaus version, Mello said.
A new variant of the Brazilian coronavirus has been identified this week, according to Rio de Janeiro health authorities.
The P1 Manaus strain seems to have mutated. Hence, the new version has been named P.1.2., scientists in Rio said.
The new variant P.1.2 was identified in 5.85% of the 376 samples taken in 57 municipalities of the state of Rio, second only to São Paulo in the total number of cases nationwide.
So far it cannot be said that this variant is more contagious or lethal, which is a mutation of P1, Rio State Health Undersecretary Claudia Mello said in a statement. She also explained that the new variant was found mainly in the northern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, but also the metropolitan area and coastal municipalities.