CDC urges clinicians to encourage pregnant patients to get COVID-19 vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today urged clinicians to educate pregnant patients about the benefits and safety of COVID-19 vaccination; and encourage and offer vaccination to patients who are pregnant, recently pregnant or might become pregnant to increase vaccination rates in this population. According to CDC, only 31% of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with lower rates in Black (16%) and Hispanic/Latino populations (25%).

More than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths; monthly deaths peaked at 22 in August. About 97% of hospitalized patients were unvaccinated, the CDC advisory notes.

"I strongly encourage those who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to talk with their health care provider about the protective benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine to keep their babies and themselves safe," said CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, M.D.

CDC offers a toolkit to help clinicians communicate with pregnant people and new parents about COVID-19.