Mississippi has witnessed a troubling rise in stillbirths since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent reports indicate that the state is struggling with a high rate of unvaccinated residents, with only 38% fully vaccinated compared to the national average of 53%. This alarming trend has been compounded by tragic statistics surrounding COVID-related fatalities among children and pregnant individuals.
State officials disclosed that the rate of stillbirths has doubled since the pandemic started. Dr. Alex Rivera, Mississippi’s Health Officer, commented during a recent livestream, highlighting that “COVID poses significant risks for pregnant women” and can be “fatal for the unborn child.” He elaborated, stating, “We’ve observed a doubling in the rate of fetal demise, which refers to the loss of the baby in the womb after 20 weeks. This is an immense tragedy.”
Since the pandemic’s beginning, Mississippi has reported 72 fetal deaths attributed to COVID-19, a figure that excludes miscarriages occurring before the 20-week mark. Dr. Rivera pointed out that this figure represents “twice the expected background rate.” Additionally, seven children have succumbed to the virus. “These are preventable tragedies,” he noted.
State health officials have also recorded a surge in deaths among pregnant women, with over 1,500 diagnoses of COVID-19 in this demographic since March 2020. “We are still experiencing the Delta variant surge, and sadly, we have observed a notable number of pregnant women who did not survive COVID recently,” Dr. Rivera shared. “At present, we are examining reports of eight pregnant women who passed away in the last few weeks, all of whom were unvaccinated.”
Dr. Rivera emphasized that the majority of current cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities are among the unvaccinated population. CDC Director Dr. Emily Carter recently urged all pregnant individuals, those planning to conceive, and breastfeeding mothers to get vaccinated, stating, “Vaccines are safe and effective, especially against the highly transmissible Delta variant.”
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In summary, Mississippi has seen a serious increase in stillbirth rates since the pandemic started, with significant numbers of pregnant women affected by COVID-19. Health officials warn of the urgent need for vaccinations to protect both mothers and their babies.
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