The coronavirus conundrum – A third wave? - Vaccines and viral variants - The pregnant woman and her child

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to reproduce rapidly and is showing more infectious
variants. The second wave of the pandemic is subsiding in Europe and the United
States of North America, but not in South America. In Peru, the number of deaths
has more than doubled, with a higher mortality rate in men and in those over 70
years of age. It has been corroborated worldwide that pregnant women suffer a
more severe disease -sometimes with a process similar to preeclampsia- with a
greater possibility of death than non-pregnant women and greater fetal death and
prematurity. Initial vaccines developed in the USA and Europe are proving effective in
reducing infections, hospitalizations and deaths in countries where vaccination has
advanced more rapidly. It is being administered in pregnant women without major
side effects, and they are recommended to be vaccinated to avoid severe infection.
As of now, the duration of immunity given by COVID-19 infection and by the vaccine
is not known. A third booster dose and rebranding of vaccinees is being considered.
And a third wave of infections is expected due to the emergence of the Brazilian and
Indian (Delta) variants.