Safety before and during pregnancy and after baby arrives

Medicines and immunization in pregnancy aim to reduce illness and death among pregnant women as well as their young infants. This is true in both, high- as well as low and middle-income countries. Particularly in these latter, access to basic health services is limited.

The Pharmacovigilance team is involved in monitoring the safety of medicines and vaccines to ensure preventing adverse events both for the mother and the infant.

In particular, following the introduction of vaccines during pregnancy, e.g., vaccines against influenza, allowed to directly protect the foetus and infants via the antibodies transferred from the mothers. 

During pregnancy and breastfeeding, medicines uptake especially for over-the-counter medicines, is known to be increased. Potential maternal and neonatal outcomes can be avoided by safety and efficacy evaluation.