22 Pregnant Women Died From COVID-19 in August

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory on September 29, 2021, recommending urgent action to increase COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), women trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future.

CDCHAN-00453 says as of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant women, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths since the pandemic began in early 2020. 

The highest number of COVID-19 related deaths in pregnant women (22) in a single month during the pandemic was reported in August 2021.

The CDCHAN-00453 did not disclose vaccination status or other comorbidities for the 22 women.

Despite the known risks of COVID-19, just 31% of pregnant women were fully vaccinated before or during pregnancy as of September 18, 2021.

In addition, vaccination coverage was the lowest for non-Hispanic Black pregnant women, 15.6%.

Although the absolute risk is low, compared with non-pregnant symptomatic women, symptomatic pregnant women have more than a two-fold increased risk of requiring ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and a 70% increased risk of death, says the CDC.

During the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting on September 22, 2021, Dana Meaney-Delman, MD, MPH FACOG presented 'Updates on COVID-19 and Pregnancy'; Elyse O. Kharbanda, MD, MPH HealthPartners Institute, presented 'Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy, Interim Data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink'; and Christine Olson MD, MPH presented 'Updates from the v-safe COVID-19 vaccine pregnancy registry.'

Globally, most countries recommend some or all pregnant women receive a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant.

The CDC, the UK, and the European Medicines Agency say 'COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all 12 years and older women, including pregnant women, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future.' And 'pregnant women in Russia can get vaccinated when the benefits for the mother outweigh the risks for the fetus.'

However, thirty-one countries do not recommend the vaccine according to the Maternal Immunization Tracker, produced by Johns Hopkins University.

Based in Atlanta, GA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protects people's health and safety by preventing and controlling diseases and injuries; enhances health decisions by providing credible information on critical health issues; and promotes healthy living through strong partnerships with local, national and international organizations.