Written by Dr Sarah Merritt – Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Covid-19 infection in pregnancy is still a major risk for women and their babies especially if women are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated.
Having both vaccinations and the booster at any stage of pregnancy is the safest and most effective way of protecting a woman and their unborn baby from COVID-19 infection. Pregnant women are still a vulnerable group and are in the priority group for booster vaccination. For pregnant women who are not fully vaccinated or unvaccinated, they may consider limiting close contact with people they do not usually mix with especially if in the third trimester or when COVID-19 disease levels are high.
The latest information from the UKOSS (UK Obstetric surveillance system) study of COVID-19 in pregnancy shows very clear evidence of the effectiveness of vaccination against COVID-19 in pregnancy.
Of 1714 pregnant women admitted to hospital with symptomatic COVID-19 from 1st February 2021 to 30th September 2021, 98.1% were unvaccinated and 1.5% had received one dose. Of the 235 of these women (14%) who were admitted to intensive care 98.7% were unvaccinated and 1.3% had received one dose.
Sadly maternal deaths are continuing to occur, and has increased with the Delta (third) wave of infection, again with the majority of women unvaccinated. 39% of maternal deaths due to COVID happened in this third wave (27% died in the first wave and 33% died in the second wave). During the Delta wave (July to September 2021) vaccination had already been recommended for all adults including pregnant women (since April 2021).
From 1st March 2020 until 11thJuly 2021, 3371 pregnant women were admitted to hospital with COVID-19. 43% of them were subsequently delivered by caesarean section, 24% had pneumonia, 21% needed breathing support, 10% needed intensive care and 0.4% of women died. During the same period of time of the 3036 babies born so far to these women, 21% were premature and 20% admitted to the neonatal unit, 1% were stillborn.
All pregnant women are recommended to have the COVID vaccination and booster by the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of obstetricians and Gynaecologists.