In-Depth: CDC urges pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated, now.

The agency issued a new health advisory Wednesday after the deadliest month so far for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August, 22 pregnant women died from COVID-19 in the U.S.

This year, 97% of women pregnant and hospitalized with COVID-19, have been unvaccinated.

The CDC says pregnant women who have COVID-19 and are symptomatic have a two-fold risk of admission to the intensive care unit and a 70% greater risk of death, compared to those who are not expecting.

The CDC’s advice to get vaccinated also extends to new moms, moms who are breastfeeding, women who are trying to become pregnant and those who might become pregnant in the future.

According to the CDC, only about one-third of pregnant women have been vaccinated.

The number varies when broken down by race and ethnicity. Asian Americans have the highest vaccination rate, at 45.7% African-Americans have the lowest, at 15.6%. Of pregnant Latinas, 25.3% are vaccinated and of pregnant white women, 33.8% are vaccinated.

The average across all races and ethnicities is 31%.

Click here for more data from the CDC.