The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a critical advisory urging pregnant individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This call to action comes in response to alarming vaccination rates; as of September 18, 2021, only 31% of pregnant people had received the vaccine, compared to 56% of the general population.
The CDC’s advisory emphasizes that those who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are breastfeeding), planning to conceive, or may become pregnant in the future should prioritize COVID-19 vaccination. The organization asserts that the advantages of getting vaccinated far outweigh any known or potential risks.
August 2021 marked a concerning peak in COVID-19-related fatalities among pregnant individuals, largely attributed to the Delta variant. According to the CDC, about 97% of pregnant people hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 were unvaccinated.
The risks associated with COVID-19 during pregnancy are significant. The CDC highlights that pregnant individuals with the virus are more likely to experience severe illness compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. These severe conditions can include hospitalization, ICU admission, the need for ventilation, and, tragically, even death.
Unvaccinated pregnant individuals face serious complications, including more than double the risk of requiring ICU care and a 70% higher risk of death. There is also an increased likelihood of preterm birth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, coagulopathy, and stillbirth. Additionally, babies born to those with COVID-19 are at a higher risk of needing neonatal ICU care, with 4% testing positive for the virus.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) strongly advocate for COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant individuals. There is a growing body of evidence addressing previous concerns regarding the lack of data from initial vaccine trials involving pregnant and breastfeeding people. With extensive studies now available, the CDC is urging the community to recognize that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and necessary for pregnant individuals.
To read more on this topic, check out this post from our other blog.
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Summary:
The CDC has issued a vital warning encouraging pregnant individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19, highlighting the dangers of severe illness and complications associated with the virus. With only 31% vaccination among pregnant individuals as of mid-September 2021, the health agency stresses that the benefits of vaccination far exceed potential risks. Organizations like ACOG and SMFM support this call to action, aiming to dispel myths surrounding vaccine safety for pregnant people.
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