PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Public health officials are encouraging pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine after a major study outlined the risk of the coronavirus during pregnancy.
The JAMA Pediatrics report found pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of complications and death than those who do not have the virus.
The global study found pregnant women who contracted COVID-19 were 22 times more likely to die than pregnant women who did not contract the virus. The presence of the virus increased the risk of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, pre-term birth and ICU admissions.
Newborns of mothers with COVID-19 were more likely to be born pre-term and have severe complications, including NICU stays of seven days or longer.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
