Thread by @thetimes

Pregnant women have been added to the list of those at higher risk from Covid, after research revealed the virus had increased the UK’s maternal death rate by about 50% thetimes.co.uk/article/pregna…

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said they should be prioritised for vaccination slots, with doctors and midwives calling on NHS jab sites to help pregnant women avoid standing for hours in queues for booster clinics

New surveillance data from the University of Oxford also revealed that four newborn babies died from Covid-19 between May and October this year, when the Delta variant was dominant

The data showed that 34 women died in the UK after acquiring Covid while pregnant, mostly unvaccinated.

Between May 16 and October 31, there were 5.4 maternal coronavirus deaths per 100,000 live births. There are usually about nine maternal deaths per 100,000 live births

The JCVI urged unvaccinated people to book their vaccines now, and anyone who had had two doses more than three months ago to get a booster dose. In November, it was revealed that just one in five pregnant women had had the vaccine
thetimes.co.uk/article/one-in…

Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the JCVI, said: “There is no evidence to suggest that Covid vaccines used in pregnancy increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, congenital abnormalities or birth complications. Having a Covid vaccine is safer than having Covid itself”

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from the UK Health Security Agency, said: "We know that the vaccines used in the UK Covid-19 vaccination programme have been highly effective in preventing serious complications and those recommended for pregnant women have a good safety record"

“I would urge all pregnant women to come forward and get their vaccine without delay. This is the best way to protect you and your baby.”

Read the full story here: thetimes.co.uk/article/pregna…