Watch: Dr. Wendy Hansen addresses questions around COVID vaccine for pregnant women.
With the ongoing spread of the delta variant, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect most aspects of public life in the United States.
Fortunately, multiple vaccines which have proven effective are readily available at no cost to everyone age 12 and up. Data show that these vaccines are the most effective way to protect against the virus and slow its spread.
Understandably, many expectant mothers have concerns about getting vaccinated while pregnant.
UK HealthCare’s Wendy Hansen, MD, recently addressed those concerns and discussed what research has determined about the risk posed by COVID-19 to pregnant women and their babies. Dr. Hansen is chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, specializing in maternal-fetal medicine.
“In this past year the CDC has placed pregnancy on its ‘high-risk’ list (for COVID),” Dr. Hansen said. “So, what that means is that if you are pregnant, you are three times more likely than if you’re not pregnant to go to the ICU because of very severe COVID. Or 2.4 times as likely to go on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) in an ICU if you are pregnant.”
“We do really understand how difficult it is for many women. They want to protect their babies from any harm and we appreciate that and we really do admire that in many ways. But I want you to listen to the science, and the science is that (the COVID-19 vaccine) is safe and it is very protective for you and your baby.”
Watch Dr. Hansen's full remarks:
