The local health unit is urging pregnant and breastfeeding women who have not received their COVID-19 vaccine to speak to their primary health care provider, midwife, or OB/GYN about getting the vaccine.
“Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is safe for pregnant and breastfeeding people, getting COVID-19 is not,” explains Dr. Fantham-Tremblay, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, North Bay Regional Health Centre.
“We understand that the decisions made by expecting parents or those breastfeeding are done with an abundance of caution with the baby’s health in mind. By speaking with a primary health care provider, midwife or OB/GYN about the COVID-19 vaccine, your questions will be answered without judgment and by an individual who has you and your baby’s health top of mind.”
It is also important for individuals who will be in close contact with the pregnant person or baby to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help prevent the spread, especially as infants cannot be vaccinated says a news release.
“Over 80,000 pregnant people have now received the COVID-19 vaccine, without any safety or fertility concerns being identified,” explains Audrey tenWesteneind, Midwife, K'Tigaaning Midwives. “Pregnant people who get COVID-19 are much more likely to get severe illness and require care in the hospital and ICU than other people with COVID who are not pregnant.”
The risks of complications or severity from COVID-19 illness during pregnancy or postpartum outweigh any potential risk of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Although COVID-19 case rates in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit remain stable, individuals who have COVID-19 and are pregnant have a higher risk of serious illness resulting in ICU admission or death.
Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 also have a higher risk of high blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy, cesarean delivery and preterm birth.
