Rotherham public health leaders are encouraging pregnant women to get both their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this winter.
The COVID-19 vaccination is available for women who are pregnant. Pregnant women are being encouraged to get both doses of their COVID-19 vaccination after research from NHS England showed that 20 per cent of the most critically ill COVID patients in the last few months have been pregnant women who have not been vaccinated.
Pregnant women are also eligible to get their free flu vaccination through the NHS, and this offers them protection from becoming seriously ill with the flu during the flu season.
Ben Anderson, Director of Public Health for Rotherham, said: “It is really important for expectant mothers to protect themselves from winter illnesses such as COVID-19 and seasonal flu. Both of these illnesses can have a negative impact on mothers and their unborn babies, so it is better to protect yourself and get the vaccines when they are offered to you.
“There is a lot of misinformation surrounding the vaccine, pregnancy and infertility which has caused many women to put off getting their vaccine, however, there is no evidence to support these myths. The COVID-19 vaccine has been rigorously tested and has been approved by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The vaccination does not give you or your baby the virus, but it does offer you protection from becoming seriously ill with the virus, so please do not delay getting your vaccines.
“The COVID-19 vaccine will only protect you against COVID-19 so make sure you are completely protected against winter illnesses by also getting your flu vaccination. Flu, like COVID-19, can be very dangerous for pregnant women and can lead to serious health complications. If you have any concerns, talk to your GP or midwife who will be more than happy to offer support and guidance.”
Getting the COVID-19 vaccination is recommended by a number of trusted institutions including the Royal College of Obstetricians, Royal College of Midwives and the UK Tetralogy Service, and the independent JCVI confirms the vaccine has been shown to be effective and safe for women carrying a baby.
The Head of Midwifery at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Petty, said: “In the UK, surveillance shows that approximately one in 100 pregnant women who have been admitted to hospital test positive for COVID-19 (although this will change during the stages of the pandemic). One in 10 women admitted to hospital with COVID-19 require intensive care. In the later stages of pregnancy women are at increased risk of becoming seriously unwell with COVID-19. If you have COVID-19 in pregnancy, you are twice as likely to have a stillbirth, and it is twice as likely that your baby will be born prematurely, which can affect their long-term health (RCOG October 2021).
“Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect you and your baby against COVID-19. It really is that simple. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant women worldwide have been vaccinated, safely and effectively protecting themselves against COVID and dramatically reducing their risk of serious illness or harm to their baby.”
Further information about the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations can be found online on the NHS website