One in six of England’s critically ill Covid patients are pregnant women
NHS England is encouraging pregnant women to get their jabs
Nearly 20% of the most critically ill Covid patients are pregnant women who haven't been vaccinated, new data suggests.
NHS England said that, since July, 17% of Covid patients receiving treatment through a special lung-bypass machine were expectant mums who have not had their first jab.
Data also showed that pregnant women accounted for 32% of all females (between 16 and 49-years-old) in intensive care on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).
This technique is used when a patient's lungs are so damaged by Covid that a ventilator can't maintain oxygen levels.
Since vaccinations began in December 2020, almost every person who has received ECMO for Covid in the UK has been unvaccinated, NHS data shows.
Keeping pregnant women safe
England's chief midwife, Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, said the data is "another stark reminder that the Covid-19 jab can keep you, your baby and your loved ones safe and out of hospital".
Addressing mothers-to be, she said: "You can receive vaccination at any time in pregnancy, but the risks that unvaccinated pregnant women face of becoming severely unwell if they catch Covid-19 show exactly why we advise you to do so as soon as possible."
Though the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) said the statistics are a "damning indictment of the lack of attention given to this vulnerable group as restrictions have eased".
Sarah McMullen, director of impact and engagement at the NCT, said: "We've been extremely disappointed to hear of so much misinformation and confusion about the vaccination programme and so little focus on what's needed to keep vulnerable groups safe as restrictions have eased.
"We strongly encourage pregnant women to consider having the Covid-19 vaccination and have information on our website to help them make a decision."
Data from more than 100,000 Covid vaccinations in pregnancy in England and Scotland, and a further 160,000 in the US, show there has been no subsequent harm to the foetus or infant.
Mum-to-be urges pregnant women to get their jabs
Mum-to-be Claire Bromley spent almost a month in hospital with coronavirus and said she feels the risk of being unjabbed "far outweighs any doubts" about getting a vaccination.
The 33-year-old, who hadn't been vaccinated, was admitted to a hospital in Kent with breathing difficulties just a few days after testing positive for Covid.
She was then put on a ventilator while in a medically induced coma.
When her condition worsened, medics thought she might need an emergency C-section, at just 26 weeks, and she was transferred to another hospital in London.
She was allowed home in early August, after her condition improved, almost a month after first being admitted.
She is now recovering with her husband and their unborn child, who is also doing well.
Claire said: "I completely understand the hesitation not to get vaccinated when you are growing a child inside you, and after experiencing two miscarriages before the pandemic, the fear of being pregnant again with the worry of COVID was sending my anxiety through the roof.
"But after what happened, I can honestly say that the risk of not having the COVID vaccine far outweighs any doubts about having it."
Health experts worried about unvaccinated expectant mums
The president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Edward Morris, said medics understand women's concerns but want to offer reassurance that the vaccine is safe.
Dr Morris added that the "disproportionate" number of unvaccinated pregnant women in intensive care shows there is a "significant risk of severe illness from Covid-19 in pregnancy".
Public Health England data shows more than 81,000 pregnant women have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine, and around 65,000 have received their second dose, NHS England said.
Pregnant women were first offered the vaccine in December 2020, if they were health or care workers or in an at risk group.
Since April 2021, pregnant women have been offered the vaccine as part of the standard age based rollout of the vaccination programme.
Health chiefs are now calling on all expectant mums to get vaccinated to protect them and their baby against coronavirus.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid added his voice to calls encouraging expectant mums to have the jab. He said latest figures on those in hospital are "desperately sad" and that vaccines will give "significant protection".