Media Releases and Opportunities
» Go to news mainMedia opportunity: Research on vaccines for pregnant and breastfeeding women should be a priority and should include these groups: Dalhousie professors
Pregnant women, their fetuses and infants are at increased risk of severe disease and death from many diseases like COVID-19 that could be prevented with vaccines. Yet, they are typically excluded from research aimed at generating data to support decision-making when it comes to vaccine implementation.
In a new paper published today in Lancet, researchers at Dalhousie University say the time has come to end that practice and include pregnant and breastfeeding women in early vaccine research, while removing real and perceived barriers to responsible inclusion.
Karina Top, an associate professor in Dal's Department of Pediatrics and researcher with the Canadian Center for Vaccinology; Francoise Baylis, a University Research Professor in Philosophy at Dal; and post-doctoral fellow, Terra Manca, co-authored the commentary that outlines how pregnant women have historically been excluded from research initiatives despite repeated calls from various health groups, clinicians and regulators for their inclusion.
The commentary states that for the most part, pregnant and breastfeeding women were not included in pre-implementation clinical trials of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Trials involving pregnant women began only after emergency use authorization of the vaccines was granted, but many were not completed due to a lack of participants.
The authors note that some countries initially advised against vaccinating pregnant and breastfeeding women against COVID-19, while others said vaccination could be offered to them despite the absence of clinical trial data. Yet, some health-care providers and women hesitated to accept these recommendations.
Dr. Top and Dr. Baylis are available to discuss measures that would ensure this vulnerable group is included in future vaccine trials at the outset to improve vaccine acceptance.
-30-
Media contact:
Alison Auld
Senior Research Reporter
Communications, Marketing and Creative Services
Dalhousie University
Cell: 1-902-220-0491
Email: alison.auld@dal.ca
Recent News
- Media opportunity: Dalhousie University study shows the ill effects of antimicrobials in large pediatric leukemia and lymphoma population in Atlantic Canada
- Media opportunity: Images on social media platforms of animals tangled in masks, disposable gloves show how protective plastic gear has affected wildlife throughout the pandemic
- Media opportunity: Dalhousie University professor taps into the power of gaming to help people struggling with mental health
- Media opportunity: Podcast by Dalhousie University professor showcases the trials, tribulations and trauma of working in the fisheries as told by fishermen themselves
- Media opportunity: Dalhousie University brother‑sister duo develop app that looks like recipe site, but allows victims of intimate partner violence to discreetly seek help
- Media opportunity: New Dalhousie University study finds opioid agonist treatment reduces risk of death and rehospitalisation among people who inject drugs
- Media opportunity: Children who are the same sex as their parent with anxiety disorder are at greater risk of developing anxiety disorder too: Dalhousie University study
- Media opportunity: International experts predict the greatest impacts on ocean biodiversity over next decade, urge policymakers to act now
Comments
comments powered by Disqus