Pregnancy and COVID-19 Vaccine

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

MEDIA RELEASE

October 25, 2021

Our recent data for LGL shows that 64.3% of pregnant women have received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and only 54.4% have received two doses.

Pregnant individuals are eligible and recommended to get 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, at any stage in pregnancy (even the first trimester). While pregnant individuals were not included in trials for COVID-19 vaccines, hundreds of thousands of pregnant individuals have now received COVID-19 vaccines and there were no significant health concerns found for the woman or her baby.

Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy

• Protection from being sick with COVID-19 – fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, and feeling unwell with tiredness and muscle aches and pains.

• Protection from hospitalization from COVID-19 symptoms. About one in ten pregnant women with COVID-19 will need hospitalization and some will need to go to intensive care and be on a ventilator. This is, in part, because the pressure of the baby on the diaphragm affects breathing, and the COVID-19 virus also affects the lungs and breathing.

• Protects the baby from being born early if the woman has COVID-19.

• Provides protection for the baby when the antibodies developed by the mother go through breastmilk to the baby.

• The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t affect fertility.

How to get your COVID-19 vaccine in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark:

a. Book into one of our community clinics using the online booking system (Pomelo Platform (healthmyself.net)

or call 1-844-369-1234 – walk-ins are available but booking can reduce wait time.

b. COVID-19 Vaccine is also available at local pharmacies and from your health care provider

For more information and resources, visit:

• COVID-19 - SOGC Resources

• COVID-19 | AOM (ontariomidwives.ca)

• COVID-19 Vaccination: Special Populations - Vaccination in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Decision-Making Support Tool (gov.on.ca)

• COVID-19 Protection & Vaccines - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit