Srinivas G Kasi1, Shashi Kant Dhir2, S Shivananda3, Sanjay Marathe4, Kripasindhu Chatterjee5, Sunil Agarwalla6, Sanjay Verma7, Abhay K Shah8, Sanjay Srirampur9, Srinivas Kalyani10, Harish Kumar Pemde11, S Balasubramanian12, G V Basavaraja13, Bakul J Parekh14, Remesh Kumar15, Piyush Gupta16. 1. Kasi Clinic, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka. Correspondence to: Srinivas G Kasi, Convener, ACVIP of IAP, Kasi Clinic, 2nd Cross, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka. sgkasi@gmail.com. 2. Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab. 3. Fortis Hospital, Banneraghatta Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka. 4. Marathe Child Care Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra. 5. Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Science and Hospital, Durgapur, West Bengal. 6. MKCG MCH, Berhampur, Odisha. 7. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. 8. Dr Abhay K Shah Children Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. 9. Aditya Super speciality Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana. 10. Niloufer Hospital, Osmania medical College, Hyderabad. 11. Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. 12. Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 13. IGICH, Bengaluru, Karnataka. 14. Bakul Parekh Hospital for Children, Mumbai, Maharashtra. 15. Apollo Adlux Hospital, Cochin, Kerala. 16. University College of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Abstract
JUSTIFICATION: In India, till recently, breastfeeding women have been excluded from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program, rendering a significant population of the country, including frontline workers, ineligible to derive the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this recommendation is production of an evidence-based document to guide the pediatricians to give advice to breastfeeding mothers regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women. PROCESS: Formulation of key question was done under the chairmanship of president of the IAP. It was followed by review of literature regarding efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding women. The recommendations of other international and national professional bodies were also deliberated in detail. The available data was discussed in the ACVIP focused WhatsApp group. Opinion of all members was taken and the final document was prepared after achieving consensus. RECOMMENDATIONS: The IAP/ACVIP recommends the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to all breastfeeding women. The IAP/ACVIP endorses the recent recommendation of the Government of India, to consider all breastfeeding women as eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.
JUSTIFICATION: In India, till recently, breastfeeding women have been excluded from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program, rendering a significant population of the country, including frontline workers, ineligible to derive the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this recommendation is production of an evidence-based document to guide the pediatricians to give advice to breastfeeding mothers regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating women. PROCESS: Formulation of key question was done under the chairmanship of president of the IAP. It was followed by review of literature regarding efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in breastfeeding women. The recommendations of other international and national professional bodies were also deliberated in detail. The available data was discussed in the ACVIP focused WhatsApp group. Opinion of all members was taken and the final document was prepared after achieving consensus. RECOMMENDATIONS: The IAP/ACVIP recommends the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to all breastfeeding women. The IAP/ACVIP endorses the recent recommendation of the Government of India, to consider all breastfeeding women as eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.