Released on: 15 July 2021
In response to the ‘perfect storm’ for pregnant women of rising Covid-19 rates and the lifting of UK restrictions, Dr Sarah McMullen, Director of Impact and Engagement, NCT, said:
“We are extremely concerned that rising Covid-19 rates and the lifting of UK restrictions (in England next week and other nations over the summer) could lead to pregnant women, many of whom are unvaccinated, becoming ill. It is understandable that pregnant women have questions and hesitations about vaccinations and we’ve been really frustrated to hear of so much misinformation and, in many cases, a lack of support for informed decision-making.
“We urge healthcare professionals to read the guidance on Covid-19 in pregnancy and to make every contact count to support informed decision-making. Pregnant women should be prioritised as a clinically vulnerable group with investment in direct campaigns to help reliable information reach more people. This should include clear, updated guidance for pregnant women on mitigating the risks of Covid-19 in their daily lives over the coming months.
“We have the latest information available on our website to support pregnant women and also produced a video with an expert panel discussing vaccination concerns.”
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) have called the situation a ‘perfect storm’. RCOG has developed a range of information for healthcare professionals and pregnant women about COVID-19 vaccinations and RCM has issued guidance for maternity staff.
