The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently urged all pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine as hospitals in hot spots around the U.S. saw disturbing numbers of unvaccinated mothers-to-be seriously ill with the virus.

Pregnant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus, including perhaps miscarriages and stillbirths. “Even though the vaccines are safe and effective,” says DCD Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, “vaccination rates are low, with only about 23% having received at least one dose. And now we’re facing a highly transmissible delta variant, and outcomes for pregnant women are becoming more severe, so it has become more important than ever for pregnant women to be vaccinated.”

Although studies that lead to the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines did not include pregnant women, experts say real-world experience in tens of thousands of women shows that the shots are safe for them and that, when given during pregnancy, may offer some protection to newborns.

Pregnancy-related changes in body functions may explain why the virus can be dangerous for mothers-to-be. These include reduced lung capacity and adjustments in the disease-fighting immune system that protect and help the fetus grow. Some studies suggest the virus can also increase the risks of preterm birth and stillbirth. And, in rare cases, it appears to have passed from mother to fetus as hospitals in the U.S. have experienced an increasing number of children and babies sick with COVID-19 who unvaccinated mothers may have infected.

If you are pregnant and have questions regarding the vaccine, contact our office at 949-2970 to discuss your options with one of our Doctors or visit our website to book an appointment – https://thechildrensclinic.ky/#appointment