UK doctors warn of higher risks for pregnant women
PREGNANT women have been added to the list of those at higher risk from Covid, after research revealed the virus had increased the UK’s maternal death rate by about 50 per cent.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said pregnant women should be prioritised for vaccination slots, with doctors and midwives urging National
Health Service booster clinics to help them avoid standing for hours in queues.
Data from the University of Oxford also revealed that four newborn babies died from Covid-19 between May and October this year, when the Delta variant was dominant.
The data showed 34 women had died in the UK after acquiring Covid while pregnant. Most of them were unvaccinated.
There are usually about nine maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Between May 16 and October 31, there were an extra 5.4 maternal coronavirus deaths per 100,000 live births.
In a snapshot of cases, 1436 pregnant women were admitted to hospital with symptoms of Covid-19 during the same period, more than 96 per cent of them unvaccinated. Some 230 of them ended up in intensive care.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of immunisation for the JCVI, said: “There is no evidence to suggest that Covid-19 vaccines used in pregnancy increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, congenital abnormalities or birth complications.
“Having a UK-approved Covid-19 vaccine is safer than having Covid-19 itself. Women who are pregnant are strongly encouraged to have a first, second or booster vaccine dose as appropriate in order to better protect yourself and your baby from any serious consequences from Covid-19.”
Data from studies showed that in the first wave 7.9 per cent of pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid-19 ended up in intensive care, compared with 16 per cent in the third wave.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said: “The serious risks posed to women who become infected with Covid-19 during pregnancy have become increasingly clear.”