‘Crossing the River’ of doubt about COVID-19 vaccines
For healthy pregnant women, the message is now clear - the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks.
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04 November 2021 – In the Khmer language, “crossing the river” is a common way to refer to childbirth; it’s a journey that everyone hopes will go smoothly but could just as easily go wrong. Mothers and families do whatever they can to make this journey safely.
“I am proud to be among the first pregnant women in Cambodia to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Ms. Morn Chantha, who is 25 years old and expecting her third child. “When vaccinations first became available in my area, I was already pregnant. At that time, it was not yet recommended that pregnant women get vaccinated because of concerns about possible negative impacts to babies and mothers.”
The Royal Government of Cambodia has worked hard to ensure that everyone has access to vaccines, which has led to comprehensive vaccination coverage. The campaign, which began in March 2021, prioritized high-risk groups before moving quickly to the general population, even reaching into the most remote regions. For most Cambodians, the recommendation has been very clear-cut from the beginning: get vaccinated as soon as approved doses are available in your area. However, for pregnant women in Cambodia and around the globe, getting vaccinated has been less straight-forward. In the early days of the campaign roll-out, they were not encouraged to get vaccinated, unless part of a high-risk group, like healthcare workers.
Chantha, who lives with five members of her extended family in Pailin province, had been closely following evolving recommendations, waiting for the day pregnant women would get the green light for COVID jabs. “Everyone in my family is vaccinated, including my oldest child who is six years old. Being unvaccinated, I was worried that someone in my family might transmit COVID-19 to me. I was also worried that the supply of vaccines would run out before I had my chance.” At each prenatal check-up, she made sure she was in good health, so when her turn came, she would be ready.
Global guidance progressed as more studies were completed. Ultimately, this led to the Cambodian Government recommending vaccinations for pregnant women unless specific risks outweighed the benefits.
When Chantha saw the Facebook announcement from the Ministry of Health (MOH) asking local authorities to prioritise pregnant women for COVID-19 vaccines, she couldn’t wait to get her shot. Chantha also brought along her niece, Ms. Morn Kaysorn who is 22 years old and six months pregnant with her first child. Like Chantha, Kaysorn’s whole family was vaccinated before her. “I stayed home most of the time and only went out for prenatal check-ups. But even then, I felt worried I would get COVID.” Initially unsure, she decided to get vaccinated after talking to her doctor and being encouraged by Chantha.
In the days following her first shot, Chantha reported some side effects. She was very sleepy and a little feverish, but her doctor had prepared her for this. He told her to relax, stay hydrated, and sleep as much as she needed. She felt completely normal after three days. She and her niece carefully counted the days to the second dose and returned together. After the second shot, both women were relieved to have only a little arm soreness at the site of injection.
Being vaccinated against COVID-19 has made both women feel more confident as they enter the last trimester of their pregnancies. “Now that I’m vaccinated, I can freely visit my mother-in-law and I feel safe going to my regular health center appointments”, shared Kaysorn. Chantha added that although she feels relieved being fully vaccinated “I know I can still transmit the virus. I will continue social distancing, always carry alcohol spray and wear a mask.”
With generous funding support from the Czech Republic, UNICEF has worked hand-in-hand with the MoH to help ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. Providing accurate information to the public, while also proactively combating disinformation has been crucial to encouraging widespread vaccine uptake. Talkwalker, a social listening platform, provides UNICEF with daily insights on Khmer social conversations about vaccines and allows early detection of disinformation. These timely insights have made it possible to tailor messages and communication assets to the needs of specific audiences. With the support of Czech funds and other donors, UNICEF designed and disseminated over 70 communication assets on COVID-19 vaccination and 126 assets on COVID-19 prevention for print, TV, radio broadcasts, and social media, reaching 12 million Cambodians in 2021 alone. Thanks to partnerships with various line ministries, like the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans, and Youth Rehabilitation, Ministry of Interior, and others, four million sets of communication assets (posters, leaflets, banners) were distributed in vaccination sites in every village across Cambodia.
Chantha is grateful to have had access to clear information to make such an important decision during her pregnancy. She will deliver her baby in March 2022 at her local health center. She is not worried about ‘crossing the river’ because she knows she will be in good hands with her midwife and the other healthcare staff. She looks forward to getting her booster shot at one of her first post-partum check-ups.