TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Association of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (POGI) in an online discussion on Friday asserted the urgency for pregnant women to be vaccinated against COVID-19 considering the current increasing cases.

POGI secretary-general Budi Wiweko believed the vaccine would be able to protect the soon-to-be mothers and their fetuses.

“Theoretically, the antibodies created by the mother can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta. It is hoped that protection will be provided for the mothers and their babies,” said Wiweko in the online discussion on July 2.

He cited a number of international scientific studies confirming the safety of this idea, which included studies on animals that showed RNA-based vaccine or non-live virus was safe for use.

POGI recommended pregnant women be vaccinated 33 weeks into their pregnancy, which was meant to create protection for their fetuses. Other recommendations from the association include injecting COVID-19 vaccine to women with pregnancy ages of over 12 weeks to avoid risks.

“Even though studies show that it is safe,” he added.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included pregnant women in the groups prone to coronavirus and said the most susceptible were pregnant women over 35 years of age with a large body mass index, comorbidities, diabetes, and hypertension.

Read: Indonesia Begins COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Mothers, Children

EGI ADYATAMA