Pregnant women urged to get covid vaccinated after latest analysis...

PREGNANT women in the Midlands are being urged to get vaccinated as the latest data reinforces previous findings on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines in pregnancy.

This latest analysis from the UK Health Security

Agency (UKHSA) shows that vaccinated women who gave birth between January and October 2021 had a very similar low risk of stillbirth, low birthweight and premature birth compared to women who were not vaccinated in pregnancy.

The data shows that women who had received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine during their pregnancy and gave birth between April and October 2021 were more likely to give birth without any of the reported adverse outcomes than women who had not been vaccinated in pregnancy (92.9 per cent compared with 91.6 per cent).

This difference was more apparent in those aged 30 years and older.

The stillbirth rate for vaccinated women was approximately 3.6 per 1,000, a similar rate for women who were not vaccinated in pregnancy (3.9 per 1,000).

This supports statements made by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) that there is no evidence to suggest that any Covid-19 vaccines are unsafe for pregnant women

Yet vaccination rates in the Midlands among pregnant women remain concerning. Take-up among pregnant women in the Midlands is 69.8% for the first dose of the Covid vaccine and 62% for the second dose.

New research funded by Wellbeing of Women and

The National Institute of Health Research found that pregnant women, particularly in the third trimester, were at significantly increased risk of giving birth early, having an induction or a Caesarean, having a stillborn baby or a baby that needed intensive care.

Tragically, during the study period, 22 women died with severe Covid-19 during pregnancy, 59 babies were stillborn and 10 babies died around the time of birth.

Dr Vijay Rawal, Deputy Medical Director of Commissioning at

NHS England and NHS Improvement in the Midlands, said:

“The evidence for the safety of the Covid vaccine and the dangers of not being protected from is clear.

“Pregnant women should speak to their GP, obstetrician, midwife, or a healthcare professional.”