Since July, thirteen’mostly unvaccinated” pregnant women have died of Covid. Yet expectant mothers continue to be turned away from clinics despite medical advice stating that jabs are safe.
New data from the University of Oxford’s MBRRACE UK study of maternal health has shown that at most 13 pregnant women died of coronavirus infection between July and September. Of those, 85 percent of them were not vaccinated.
The Guardian reports that the figure is higher in this case than in the first and second wave of the pandemic. In those waves, nine and 11 pregnancies died while jabs were not yet available.
Ministers are being urged to prioritise reaching the uninsured as booster uptake efforts will not prevent more deaths or hospitalisations.
The Department of Health reported that there were 40,954 new cases in the last 24 hours. This is a 6 percent decrease from the number recorded on Tuesday.
A total of 263 deaths were recorded on Tuesday, up almost 18 per cent in a week — the highest figure since March. Public Health Wales has also contributed to the increase in fatalities.
Only 15% of pregnant women in the UK have been fully vaccinated at present, compared with 79% of all people over 12.
Medical experts have urged hesitant mothers-to-be to get the Covid jab – warning they put themselves and their babies at risk of severe illness and death by not doing so.
Officials blamed so-called anti-vaxxers for spreading misinformation that the jabs pose risks for expectant mothers.
Professor Marian Knight, the MBRRACE UK programme leader, stated that women are being turned away by clinics and that there are trusts offering it as part the maternity service. However, it is not universal so there are still obstacles.
‘It is important we start to see data on outcomes in vaccinated women so we can show evidence vaccines are safe, rather than say there’s no evidence they cause harm.’
‘These are small numbers, but … women could have been saved ; children have been orphaned.’
Research has shown that Covid has been linked in some cases to an increased risk of premature delivery. Additionally, pregnant women are more likely to develop serious illness than non-pregnant counterparts.
An earlier study revealed that one in six patients who required intensive ventilation for Covid had been unvaccinated.
England’s chief midwife, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, earlier said the data is ‘another stark reminder that the Covid-19 jab can keep you, your baby and your loved ones safe and out of hospital’.
Only 15% of pregnant women in the UK have been fully vaccinated at present, compared with 79% of all people over 12 years.
Addressing mothers to be, she stated: ‘You can get vaccine at any time during pregnancy, but the risks that unvaccinated women face if they catch Covid-19 make it imperative that you do so as soon and as possible.
Research has also shown that the Delta version may pose a greater danger to pregnant women then previous variants.
Dr Edward Morris, president of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said that while doctors understand women’s concerns, they want to assure them that the vaccine works.
He said that the ‘disproportionate’ amount of unvaccinated pregnant mothers in intensive care shows that there is a significant risk of severe disease from Covid-19 in pregnancy.