No problem in taking Covid-19 vaccine even during periods: Doctors

Nagpur: Misconceptions and fake news have already started spreading about vaccine for all 18+ citizens. Apart from regular WhatsApp forwards holding vaccine responsible for impotency, DNA change, and cardiac arrest, the latest and most circulated one is about the vaccination for women during their menstrual cycle. Experts have debunked all these theories.
“Don’t take vaccine before and after 5 days of your periods because immunity will be very less during periods. Doses of vaccine first decrease immunity later it builds immunity. So, there is a high risk of attack for one who is vaccinated during periods,” reads the message being circulated on social media platforms across the country.
Gynecologists are getting a lot of queries because of this post. TOI spoke to expert doctors, who out right rejected the claims in it.
“There is no scientific basis to support this. Don’t fall for rumours. There is no reason not to get vaccinated during periods. No guidelines list menstruation as a reason to put off the vaccine,” said Dr Vaidehi Marathe, former president of Nagpur Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (NOGS).
“This change of immunity with menstruation is very theoretical and never proved. The link that is being circulated with this message is not even a scientific journal and written by a freelance journalist and not a doctor or a research scientist,” she clarified.
“If immunity is so much of concern then how people with all comorbidities, patients who had organ transplants, and who are on immunosuppressive medication are being vaccinated?” asked Dr Alka Mukherjee, president of NOGS.
“It takes a huge amount of work for arranging vaccination, especially in remote areas. Vaccination teams, administration teams, vaccine carriers etc needs huge system involvement. Such controversial messages may hamper the vaccination program if women refuse jabs just because of being in periods,” she added.
“Under the circumstances, vaccination is very important and this controversy should not have upper hand or cause confusion,” said Dr Sushma Deshmukh.