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The CDC issued an “urgent health notice” on Wednesday urging people who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Why is this important: The CDC said it “strongly recommends” the vaccination because its benefits to a pregnant person and the fetus outweigh the risks. He added that pregnant people with COVID-19 are at an “increased risk” of outcomes such as premature birth, stillbirth and admission of a newborn to intensive care.
- The CDC is also calling on health departments and medical professionals to educate pregnant women about the safety and effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines.
In numbers : 31% of pregnant women have been vaccinated against the virus, the CDC said.
- However, vaccination rates vary by race and ethnicity. Asian pregnant women have higher rates (45.7%) than Latinos (25%), with black pregnant women having the lowest rates at 15.6%.
- There have been more than 125,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in pregnant people as of Monday, including 22,000 hospitalizations and 161 deaths.
To note : The CDC also said there was no evidence to suggest that vaccines can cause infertility.
- Scientific studies have shown that viral antibodies from a pregnant person receiving a vaccine have been found in the umbilical cord, which means that antibodies that could protect babies can be created.
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