CDC releases health advisory to increase vaccination rates among pregnant people

Photo: Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health advisory meant to increase rates of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant people, in light of data showing that only 31% of them were vaccinated as of September 18.

The low vaccination rates are concerning, because pregnant Americans are at higher risk of experiencing severe outcomes from COVID-19, according to the CDC.

The agency is strongly recommending vaccination either before or during pregnancy, because at this point the benefits outweigh the known or potential risks. Data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network this year indicates that about 97% of pregnant people hospitalized with the virus were unvaccinated.

In addition to the risks of severe illness and death for pregnant and recently pregnant people, there is an increased risk for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth and admission of their child to an intensive care unit, the CDC said. There's also the risk of other adverse outcomes, such as stillbirth.

"Healthcare providers should strongly recommend that people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future, receive one of the authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible," the CDC said.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

Despite the federal push to get as many people vaccinated as possible, vaccination rates among pregnant people remain lower than among non-pregnant people. There are also race-related disparities, with vaccination coverage being lowest for non-Hispanic Black pregnant people (15.6%) as of September 18.

Increasing vaccination rates among these groups will likely benefit frontline healthcare workers, since symptomatic pregnant people have more than a twofold increase in risk for requiring ICU admission or invasive ventilation, and are at a 70% increased risk of death.

The risks are playing out in various ways. The News Observer, based out of Idaho, for example, reports that major hospitals and clinics in the state are seeing more premature babies born to COVID-19-positive mothers, as well as more children requiring hospitalization. Coronavirus case counts are also increasing more rapidly in children than in adults.

The CDC is recommending urgent action, including tailored and culturally responsive communication of vaccination benefits, especially among populations with lower vaccination coverage.

For healthcare providers, the agency is recommending outreach efforts to pregnant people, and to review patients' COVID-19 vaccination status at each prenatal and postnatal visit, and discuss vaccination with those who have yet to get their shots.

Providers should also engage in efforts to ensure that those who get their first dose come back for their second, and confront vaccine misinformation with evidence-based messaging from credible sources, the CDC said.

For public health jurisdictions, the agency recommends encouraging healthcare providers to offer vaccination to patients and community members who are pregnant, and to work with community partners and employers to make vaccination easily accessible for unvaccinated populations, including people who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

The CDC said jurisdictions should continue to monitor community transmission and vaccination coverage levels and focus vaccine efforts on populations with low coverage.

THE LARGER TREND

Earlier in September, President Biden attempted to increase vaccine uptake by releasing a plan requiring all employers with 100-plus employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or get tested weekly. Employers are to provide paid time off for their employees to get the vaccine. The Department of Labor is developing an emergency rule for all employers to ensure their workforces are fully vaccinated or to provide a negative test once a week.

Vaccine mandates are increasing, and as of today are required as a condition for returning to work for the employees of 14 healthcare organizations in and around Washington. The organizations agreeing to the mandate include trade associations, research organizations and advocacy groups.

In August, the Department of Health and Human Services became the latest federal agency to mandate vaccinations for its employees. The action will impact more than 25,000 workers at the Indian Health Service and National Institutes of Health, as well as members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

The move is to increase vaccination coverage and protect more people from COVID-19, including the more transmissible Delta variant.
 

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com