Making the Case for Vaccinations during Pregnancy

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we know those who are pregnant are at an increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19, and pregnant people with COVID-19 have an increased risk for preterm birth and other poor pregnancy outcomes. An opinion piece published today on CNN.com by doctors Judy Monroe, Kristina Box and Denise Jamieson dispels myths of COVID-19 vaccinations and encourages vaccine uptake among pregnant people.

Monroe is president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, while Box is state health commissioner for Indiana and Jamieson is chair of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine and chief of gynecology and obstetrics for Emory Healthcare.

Even though pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 when compared with non-pregnant people, only 31 percent of pregnant people in the United States have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Sadly more than 180 pregnant people have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began and more than 22,000 have been hospitalized.

The opinion piece highlights how all of us can help prevent additional unnecessary deaths from COVID-19. According to Monroe, Box and Jamieson, “as individuals, we can all start meaningful conversations with the people in our lives about the importance of getting vaccinated.”

For more on how public health professionals, healthcare providers, and friends and family can help encourage vaccination among pregnant people, read the full opinion piece.