Data has proven that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women, but only roughly 40% of pregnant people in the US had been vaccinated by this January.
Lingering doubts remain about COVID-19 vaccines' protection and effectiveness, especially in pregnant women, who are unsure if the vaccines are safe for themselves and their fetuses. But the risks of getting COVID-19 during pregnancy — including maternal death, stillbirth, and premature delivery — far outweigh the risks of vaccination.
When pregnant, the body is already immunosuppressed to tolerate the fetus, possesses increased blood volume that puts an extra burden on the heart, and reduces lung capacity due to the growing uterus pushing up on the diaphragm, making the body more vulnerable to infection. Despite this, the vaccination rate amongst pregnant women remains low throughout the world, landing many moms-to-be in the hospital.
Since the vaccines have been deemed safe and effective during pregnancy, scientists encourage all pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as it can be lifesaving for both the mother and the fetus by lowering the chances of maternal death, stillbirth, and premature delivery.
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