Perceptions and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant and lactating women in Singapore: A cross-sectional study

IntroductionVaccination is critical in controlling the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, vaccine perception and acceptance among pregnant and lactating women is unknown in Singapore. We aimed to determine the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among these two groups of women in Singapore, and factors associated with vaccine acceptance. MethodsWe conducted an anonymous, online survey on the perception and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and lactating women at a tertiary hospital in Singapore from 1st March to 31st May 2021. Information on demographics and knowledge were collected, and these factors were assessed for their relationship with vaccine acceptance. ResultsA total of 201 pregnant and 207 lactating women participated. Vaccine acceptance rates in pregnant and lactating women were 30.3% and 16.9% respectively. Pregnant women who were unsure or unwilling to take the vaccine cited concerns about safety of the vaccine during pregnancy (92.9%), while lactating women were concerned about potential long-term negative effects on the breastfeeding child (75.6%). Other factors significantly associated with vaccine acceptance included a lower monthly household income or education level, appropriate knowledge regarding vaccine mechanism and higher perceived maternal risk of COVID-19. Most pregnant (70.0%) and lactating women (83.7%) were willing to take the vaccine only when more safety data during pregnancy and breastfeeding were available. ConclusionsCOVID-19 vaccine acceptance was low among pregnant and lactating women in Singapore. Addressing safety concerns when more data is available and education on mechanism of vaccine action will likely improve acceptance among these women.

Comparison between Single and Double Cleavage-Stage Embryo Transfers, Single and Double Blastocyst Transfers in a South East Asian In Vitro Fertilisation Centre

INTRODUCTION@#This study investigated the differences in clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR) and multiple pregnancy rate (MPR) between double cleavage-stage embryo transfers compared to single and double blastocysts stage embryo transfers in a single academic medical centre.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#This was a retrospective cohort study performed at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital In Vitro Fertilisation (KKIVF) Centre of all women who underwent fresh-cycle in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles over a 5-year period. The outcome measures were CPR, LBR and MPR. The study included 5294 cycles, of which 539 patients underwent single embryo transfer (SET); 4533 patients underwent double embryo transfer (DET); 84 patients underwent double blastocyst embryo transfer (DBT); and 65 patients underwent single blastocyst embryo transfer (SBT).@*RESULTS@#The mean age of patients undergoing single blastocysts stage embryo transfer was lower than the other 2 groups. The DET, single and double blastocysts stage embryo transfer groups achieved similar LBR (33.9%, 38.7%, 35.4%, >0.05) and CPR (42.4%, 46.2%, 46.9%).@*CONCLUSION@#We found that single blastocysts stage embryo transfer is associated with similar LBR and CPR compared to double blastocysts stage embryo transfer and DET, with lower MPRs, and should be offered as standard practice, where possible.