Pregnant women have been made a priority group for vaccination following research showing that they are vulnerable to more serious illness and pregnancy complications if they are infected with Covid-19.
The vaccines watchdog, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), announced on Thursday that pregnant women would be moved into priority group 6, alongside adults under the age of 65 years who have long-term health conditions, and urged pregnant women to get booster and primary doses as soon as possible.
However, maternal health experts, who have repeatedly called for pregnant women to be prioritised, questioned whether the move would make a material difference to the ability of pregnant women to access vaccines.
The JCVI’s decision was underpinned by research from the University of Oxford, showing that pregnant women and their babies were at particular risk if they became infected.
The research found that 17 pregnant women died during the Delta wave of the pandemic – a 50% increase in maternal mortality compared with usual. It also found that of 1,436 pregnant women admitted to hospital during the Delta wave, 33% required respiratory support, around 2% had a stillbirth, 2% had pregnancy loss and around one in five had a preterm birth.
Pregnant women are less likely than the general population to have been vaccinated. In August, when pregnant women had to wait until their age group became eligible, only 22% of women who gave birth in England had received a single dose, and 25% in Scotland and 18% in Wales. The proportion has increased since then, but pregnant women are still disproportionately less likely to be vaccinated, with the lowest rates seen in those from black and ethnic minority groups.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of JCVI Covid-19 immunisation, 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.”
Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: “We know that the vaccines used in the UK Covid-19 vaccination programme have been highly effective in preventing serious complications and those recommended for pregnant women have a good safety record.
“I would urge all pregnant women to come forward and get their vaccine without delay. This is the best way to protect you and your baby.”
Source: Guardian
