September 13, 2021
EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) is strongly urging those who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or have recently delivered, to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
COVID-19, particularly the Delta variant, is highly infectious and pregnant individuals are at a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. Immunization is the best way to protect mother and child.
In August alone, six pregnant Albertans were admitted to ICU due to COVID-19. All of them were unimmunized. To put this into context, only seven pregnant Albertans were admitted to ICU for COVID-19 during the entire first year of the pandemic from March 2020 to March 2021. In the six cases last month, COVID-19 had severe impacts on the parent’s health, as well as the child’s. Five preterm births occurred as early as 29 weeks.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant individuals and their babies, as well as those trying to become pregnant. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get COVID-19 disease.
Vaccines make your immune system stronger by building antibodies to help prevent disease. Immunization allows immunity to be passed from mother to infant, helping to protect your baby for the first few months of life.
The mRNA vaccines are the safest type of COVID-19 vaccine to get during pregnancy and you can get the vaccine at any time (any trimester) during pregnancy.
For more information, visit: ahs.ca/vaccinepregnancy.
We encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns.
Book your immunization appointment online today at an AHS clinic or participating pharmacy, visit a walk-in, a doctor’s office, or call Health Link at 811.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
