COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future: CDC
New Delhi, 05th October 2021: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued an urgent health advisory last week strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccination before or during pregnancy to prevent serious illness, deaths, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
More than 125,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in pregnant people through September 27th with more than 22,000 hospitalized and 161 deaths in the US. Twenty-two deaths of pregnant people occurred in the month of August alone.
Pregnant people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, stillbirth, and admission into the ICU of a newborn also infected with COVID-19. Given only 31 per cent of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and vaccination rates vary markedly by race and ethnicity, CDC recommended urgent action to help protect pregnant people and their babies/infants.
CDC Statement on Pregnancy Health Advisory is as follows :
CDC issued an urgent health advisory to increase COVID-19 vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future to prevent serious illness, deaths, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The CDC health advisory strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination for both pregnant persons and their fetus or infant outweigh known or potential risks. Additionally, the advisory calls on health departments and clinicians to educate pregnant people on the benefits of vaccination and the safety of recommended vaccines.
According to CDC data, only 31 per cent of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and vaccination rates vary markedly by race and ethnicity. Vaccination coverage is highest among Asian people who are pregnant (45.7 per cent), but lower among Hispanic or Latino pregnant people (25 per cent), and lowest among Black pregnant people (15.6 per cent).
Through September 27th, there were more than 125,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in pregnant people including more than 22,000 hospitalized and 161 deaths; of which, 22 deaths occurred in the month of August alone. Cases of COVID-19 in symptomatic, pregnant people have a two-fold risk of admission into intensive care and a 70 per cent increased risk of death. Pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes that could include preterm birth, stillbirth, and admission into the ICU of a newborn also infected with COVID-19.
