Unpublished data confirm COVID vaccination rates for expectant mothers are far below the national average, says a federal science committee. The disclosure follows pre-pandemic research showing pregnant mothers often resisted routine immunization like winter flu shots..“The trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear,” the National Advisory Committee on Immunization wrote in a Friday report. Take-up of COVID-19 shots among expectant mothers was well below rates for other groups, it said..“The uptake of COVID-19 vaccine has been lower among pregnant people compared to non-pregnant people in Canada,” said the report Updated Guidance On COVID-19 Vaccines For Individuals Who Are Pregnant Or Breastfeeding. “Preliminary unpublished evidence in Ontario indicates primary series vaccine coverage among pregnant people, 71%, was 16% points lower than in the general female population of reproductive age.”.According to Blacklock's Reporter, the committee since last January 28 has recommended expectant and nursing mothers get booster shots. There was no evidence of harm to mothers or babies, it said: “No safety concerns have been identified.”.“Pregnant persons vaccinated with an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy experience the same rates of expected local and systemic adverse events as non-pregnant persons,” wrote the committee. “Vaccination during pregnancy does not increase the risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission or other adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes.”.“This statement contains the Committee’s independent advice and recommendations which are based upon the best current available scientific knowledge,” said Updated Guidance. “The committee reaffirms the importance and safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding to address the disproportionate risk of severe COVID-19 disease in people who are pregnant,” it added..Public Health Agency of Canada figures show of 16 million women fully vaccinated, including an unknown number of expectant mothers, there were 91 miscarriages and “spontaneous abortions” following COVID shots. The data were excluded from a total reports of 370 deaths following vaccination..Federal research showed even before the pandemic many mothers typically resisted immunization. Fewer than half, 45%, took a flu shot when offered during pregnancy, said a 2020 Statistics Canada report Vaccines Received During Pregnancy..“A majority of women, 84%, believe flu vaccination during pregnancy helps to protect the mother from getting the flu,” wrote analysts. “Furthermore most women believed that receiving the flu vaccine during pregnancy was safe for the mother (83%) and for the fetus (77%).”.The StatsCan report did not explain mothers’ resistance to vaccines. Findings were drawn from a Childhood National Immunization Coverage Survey.
