New Advisory: COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People

The CDC issued an urgent health advisory last week strongly recommending COVID-19 vaccination before or during pregnancy to prevent serious illness, deaths, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

More than 125,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in pregnant people through September 27^th with more than 22,000 hospitalized and 161 deaths. Twenty-two deaths of pregnant people occurred in the month of August alone. 

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, stillbirth, and admission into the ICU of a newborn also infected with COVID-19. Given only 31 percent of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and vaccination rates vary markedly by race and ethnicity, CDC recommends urgent action to help protect pregnant people and their babies/infants. 

COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future.