The province is encouraging women who are concerned about vaccine impacts on their un-born or newborn babies, should get vaccinated against COVID-19. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

GET VAXXED

‘There is no increased risks of complications:’ pregnant women, new mothers urged to get vaccinated

Sep 21, 2021 | 12:16 PM

NANAIMO — Those who are pregnant, breast feeding or planning a pregnancy should feel comfortable being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told a media briefing on Tuesday, Sep. 21, multiple studies on both pregnant women and newborns showed no side-effects or issues stemming from immunization between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

“It has shown there is no increased risks of complications after being immunized to you or your baby. There are no differences in miscarriage, pre-term births, still births or birth defects and international data supports this as well.”

Dr. Henry pointed to a recent U.S. study of 90,000 women, approximately 10 per cent who were pregnant, which showed no major issues from immunization against COVID-19, while the women who were vaccinated displayed similar post-shot side effects such as fatigue and a sore arm.

She cited significantly higher levels of adverse infant outcomes such as stillborn or premature births in the province due to mothers infected with COVID-19.

no snow

Chances of a white Christmas for Nanaimo 'quite remote'

7h ago

vehicle damage

Over 40 vehicles damaged during late-night Nanaimo vandalism spree

14h ago

rising costs

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

18h ago

“At any stage during pregnancy it is safe (to get a COVID vaccine) and it is an important way to protect you and your baby.”

Data from the province on Monday, Sep. 20 showed over 90 per cent of people receiving intensive care in the province were unvaccinated.

The recent rise in COVID cases in the province is driven by spread of the Delta variant, largely due to unvaccinated individuals, Dr. Henry reiterated.

“COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate and sadly we are seeing hundreds of cases everyday, the majority of whom are people who are not yet vaccinated,” Dr. Henry said. “These are young adults, parents, new mothers, elders and seniors requiring hospitalizations and in some cases ICU care.”

Dr. Henry also made a minor change to best practices when you’re determined to be a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Previously, any close contact was also required to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms, however those steps are no longer required.

“We know the risk of spread to and from someone who is immunized so vaccinated contacts no longer need to self-isolate, but they must continue to self-monitor and isolate and get tested is any symptoms develop.”

The policy change applies to contacts in a low-risk setting, such as in public or an outdoor visit.

More high-risk, indoor settings such as schools, universities, communal living situations and healthcare workers may still require isolation for contacts.

Ahead of the fall and winter flu season, public health is re-stocking its contact tracing departments to handle an anticipated demand.

The province is also due to launch a new online portal for parents by the end of the week, dubbed as an “authoritative source” for information on school exposures.

Dr. Henry said she’d heard parent frustrations around a lack of information to start the school year on COVID-19 exposure events at schools, but stressed those directly affected are still being contacted.

“It does take time to follow up on each individual case, sometimes that takes longer than you would expect, but you will be notified. Public health teams are prioritizing our schools because we know how important it is to make sure that child are safely in schools.”

Public health is looking at the 2021/22 school year and a significantly different situation than the start of the 2020 school year, considering the volume of students and staff fully vaccinated in B.C.’s school system.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW