The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data as of September 27, 2021, showing that more than 125,000 reported cases of COVID-19 in pregnant people and that August marked the highest reported number of deaths among this group since the onset of the pandemic. The CDC issued an urgent warning to encourage more pregnant and lactating women to get vaccinated.
In response, March of Dimes Senior Vice President and Deputy Medical Officer Dr. Zsakeba Henderson issued the following statement:
“The new data released by the CDC is extremely troubling and shows how much more work is needed to ensure pregnant and lactating individuals, as well as those looking to conceive, are vaccinated against COVID-19. The fact is, pregnant women with Covid-19 are 15 times more likely to die, 14 times more likely to need to be intubated, and 22 times more likely to have preterm birth than those who are uninfected.
“Further, women in the first trimester of pregnancy, or those who are considering getting pregnant, should know scientists saw no increase in miscarriage from vaccination. There is also no evidence vaccines, or the COVID-19 vaccine, causes infertility. Rather, the data suggest the benefits of receiving the vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks. We continue to encourage pregnant and lactating women, and those seeking to be pregnant, to get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible and consult their health care provider on any questions they may have.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that pregnant and lactating people get the COVID-19 vaccine.