The country's top doctors and medical experts are urging pregnant women to get their COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, as new data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides further evidence that the vaccines are safe for this group.
In August 2021, only 22% of women who gave birth were vaccinated. Of those pregnant women in hospital with symptomatic COVID-19, 98% are unvaccinated.
The new data shows good birth outcomes for vaccinated women, with no consistent differences between vaccinated women and all women in the figures for stillbirths, low baby birthweights and premature births. No fully vaccinated pregnant women were admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 in England in the period studied (February to September 2021).
In contrast, around one in five pregnant women who are hospitalised with the virus need to be delivered preterm to help them recover, and one in five of their babies need care in the neonatal unit.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised on 16 April that all pregnant women should be offered two vaccine doses at the same time as the rest of the population. Senior clinicians across the health system are now urging women to get the jab as soon as possible to protect themselves and their babies from the virus. The Chief Midwifery Officer for England, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, has written to fellow midwives and GP practices across the country, stressing the need to encourage pregnant women to get the jab.
A government-backed trial, Preg-CoV, has also been launched to provide more data on how the NHS can best protect pregnant women and their babies, and the evidence will be used inform future vaccination programmes. Pregnant women are being encouraged to sign-up to the trial.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician, said:
This pandemic has created a lot of fear and uncertainty for those who are thinking about pregnancy or expecting a baby, with COVID-19 being very dangerous for pregnant women in particular.
It is therefore really important that they get their COVID-19 vaccine - which has now protected hundreds of thousands of pregnant women around the world.
Today's data are hugely reassuring and further shows the vaccines continue to be the best way pregnant women can keep themselves and their babies safe from this virus.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said:
We already know that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness. If you haven't already been vaccinated, this new information should add to the reassuring safety data. Every pregnant woman who has not yet been vaccinated should feel confident to go and get the jab, and that this will help to prevent the serious consequences of catching COVID-19 in pregnancy.
This accumulating evidence will also allow midwives and other health professionals to provide better information to pregnant women and help to drive uptake higher.
Our figures also highlight stark inequalities in uptake with many of the most vulnerable women in our society going unvaccinated. It is vital that women of all backgrounds accept their offer of their vaccine in order to protect themselves.
Dr June Raine, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said:
We want to reassure all pregnant women that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for them to use at all stages of pregnancy. Our rigorous safety monitoring of these vaccines in pregnancy shows that the vaccines are safe and that there is no increased risk of pregnancy complications, miscarriage or stillbirth.
The data highlights the importance of those who are pregnant receiving the vaccine. Our advice remains that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks for most people, including those who are pregnant.
We encourage pregnant women to come forward and receive the vaccine. Please speak to your doctor or midwife if you have any questions.
Dr Mary Ross-Davie, Director for Professional Midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), said:
When you're pregnant, you want to do all you can to keep your baby – and yourself – safe. That's why the RCM is urging women to take up the COVID-19 vaccine.
Having COVID-19 during pregnancy carries a far higher risk than having the vaccine, particularly in the later stages where it can have serious consequences for both mother and baby. It can double the chance of stillbirth and triples the chance of a preterm birth, which can have long term health impact for the baby.
We know that the vaccine is a safe and effective way of preventing this, with hundreds of thousands of pregnant women worldwide having been vaccinated. And we also know that women turn to their midwives for advice, so we've produced some great resources for midwives and maternity staff to support women in their decision-making.