CDC and doctors report decline in pregnant women receiving vaccines.
Low Vaccination Rates Among Pregnant Women Raise Concerns
According to officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and some doctors, there is a concerning decline in the number of pregnant women receiving influenza and other vaccines this year.
A recent CDC report revealed that during last year’s cold and influenza season, approximately a quarter of the 2,000 surveyed pregnant women were “very hesitant” about getting a flu vaccine. This is an increase from the previous year, where only 17.2 percent expressed hesitancy.
The CDC study also found that influenza vaccination rates among expectant mothers dropped to 47.2 percent last year, compared to 57.5 percent during the 2019-2020 season, before the COVID-19 pandemic and mass vaccination campaigns.
“Findings from this survey indicate that approximately one-half of pregnant women have not received influenza or Tdap vaccines, and only one-quarter received both vaccines,” stated the CDC paper, referring to the vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.
The paper also highlighted that “influenza vaccination coverage remains low and is at least 10 percentage points lower than during the 2019–20 season, consistent with other data sources that have shown decreases in influenza vaccination coverage among pregnant women since the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Out of the 1,252 pregnant women surveyed, the CDC reported that 27.3 percent received the bivalent COVID-19 booster shot before or during their pregnancy. However, this figure represents a significant drop-off compared to the percentage of women who received at least one initial COVID-19 vaccine dose (about 65 percent) and completed the primary vaccination series (58.7 percent).
Medical professionals are expressing concern over these low vaccination rates. Denise Jamieson, vice president for medical affairs at the University of Iowa Health Care, called the number of vaccinated women for COVID-19 “disappointing.” Dr. Neil Silverman, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UCLA Health, noted that there is more resistance now than ever before, stating, “We didn’t get this kind of pushback on this scale before the pandemic.”
Dr. Anna Euser, a maternal and fetal medicine physician at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, acknowledged the nationwide drop in pregnant women receiving vaccines, attributing it to skepticism stemming from the COVID-19 vaccine’s new technology. She explained, “That has carried over to questioning of other vaccines that we’ve used for much longer periods of time.”
Another doctor, Linda Eckert from the University of Washington, highlighted the increasing bias some patients have towards vaccines. She shared that when she brings up the topic of vaccines with pregnant women, they respond with, “I’m not going to talk about it.”
The reasons behind pregnant women’s hesitancy towards vaccines were not explicitly mentioned by the doctors or the CDC. However, one official interviewed by NBC blamed it on “blatant disinformation.”
Other Data
Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the latest bivalent shots from Novavax, Moderna, and Pfizer before they were recommended by the CDC. However, recent data from the federal agency shows that only about 2 percent, or 7 million, Americans have received these updated shots.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) explained that the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has shifted to the private market, resulting in a different distribution process compared to the previous year when the government handled distribution. The spokesperson assured that the CDC and other federal agencies are working closely with manufacturers and distributors to ensure vaccines reach various locations across the United States.
The spokesperson also stated that 91 percent of Americans aged 12 years and older can access the vaccine within 5 miles of their residence. Additionally, 14 million updated boosters for COVID-19 have been shipped to pharmacies and other locations.
Data indicates that approximately 17 percent of the U.S. population, or around 56.5 million people, have received the updated booster vaccine.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Any years and know are safe in pregnancy.”
The concerns surrounding low vaccination rates among pregnant women are valid and rooted in the potential risks that unvaccinated expectant mothers face. Pregnant women are at higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Why are pregnant women at higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases?
There are several reasons why pregnant women are at higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases:
1. Changes in Immune System: During pregnancy, a woman’s immune system undergoes changes to protect the developing fetus. However, these changes also make pregnant women more susceptible to infections and less capable of fighting off diseases effectively.
2. Physiological Changes: Pregnancy leads to several physiological changes, including increased heart rate, changes in lung function, and decreased lung capacity. These changes can make it harder for pregnant women to recover from respiratory infections like influenza.
3. Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect the immune response, making pregnant women more susceptible to infections like influenza.
4. Increased Blood Volume: During pregnancy, a woman’s blood volume increases by nearly 50%, putting a higher strain on the cardiovascular system. This increased demand on the heart and lungs can result in more severe symptoms and complications if a pregnant woman contracts an infection.
5. Decreased Lung Function: As the uterus expands, it can push against the diaphragm, causing reduced lung function and making it more challenging for pregnant women to breathe. This decreased lung function can exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory infections.
6. Compromised Immune Response: Pregnancy involves the suppression of certain aspects of the immune system to prevent rejection of the fetus, which may decrease the ability to fight off infections effectively.
7. Preexisting Health Conditions: Pregnant women with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease may be at even higher risk for severe illness and complications from influenza and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is crucial for pregnant women to receive vaccines recommended during pregnancy, such as the influenza vaccine, to protect both themselves and their unborn babies from potential harm.
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