MANY local pregnant women tend to register for antenatal checkups at late stages during their pregnancy.
This was revealed by the National Health Emergency Operation Center (NHEOC) Incident Controller Dr Nemia Bainivalu from the Ministry of Health during the Covid-19 talkback show over SIBC on Sunday.
Dr Bainivalu said data have showed that a lot of pregnant women registered for antennal checkups at their late stages of pregnancy.
However, he said especially with the case of Pfizer vaccine rollout, he encouraged pregnant mothers who are yet to have their antenatal checks before giving birth to go to their nearest clinics and get their antenatal registration.
“I would like to encourage women who are yet to get their measurements or antenatal checkups before your delivery. I encourage and recommend you to must come and registered at the clinic that is close to you,” Dr Bainivalu said.
He added that is is because based on the registration at the antenatal clinics; they will allocate the number of vaccines of Pfizer vaccines to the clinics.
“It is when you come to have your antenatal checkups during the week you will then have your Pfizer vaccine. Those who are yet to register at the antenatal clinics to must come forward. I also encourage fathers to bring the mothers to register and have their antenatal registration,” Dr Bainivalu said.
Meanwhile, Dr Bainivalu said the Pfizer vaccine is stored at minus -80% and it needs a cooler storage than the normal freezers.
He added when the Pfizer vaccines are taken out of its storage place at the National Medical Store it has a month to use.
“It means for us at the health for pregnant women to try as much take the vaccines before it is spoiled,” Bainivalu said.
By ESTHER NURIA
Newsroom, Honiara
