COVID complications relatively low for pregnant women, Banner doctor says
Jan 18, 2021, 7:05 AM | Updated: 7:37 am
(Pexels Photo)
(Pexels Photo)
PHOENIX — A doctor with Banner Health says the risks associated with COVID-19 are relatively low for women who are pregnant.
Dr. Christopher Kevin Huls, who specializes in the care of women during pregnancy for Banner Health, said pregnant women make up about 5% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
“That data does suggest that there is still an increased risk for complications as a pregnant patient, but fortunately the overall absolute risk is lower than we initially had concerns for,” he told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Huls said the overall risk of COVID-19 is low for pregnant women because they’re typically younger and healthier, “so they tend to tolerate the disease course a little bit better.”
He added there doesn’t seem to be evidence that shows pregnant women who are infected with COVID-19 can pass the infection on to their fetuses.
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Still, complications can develop. One of the most severe ones is pneumonia. Huls said it can lead to dangerously low levels of oxygen, which could affect the fetus.
“They may require an early delivery in order to assist the fetus if there is concern there for distress,” he said. “In some cases, when pregnant patients are progressively getting more hypoxic, then we do have to facilitate the delivery because patients are requiring more advanced procedures.”
To reduce the risk of getting the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pregnant women take some of the same steps as the general public. That includes limiting interactions with people who do not live in the same household, wearing a mask, hand washing and staying at least six feet apart from others.
Huls said one of the best ways pregnant women can protect themselves is by getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We don’t expect that the vaccine itself would cause complications to a pregnant mom regardless of whether they got it in the first, second or third trimester,” he said.
Though pregnant women were excluded from COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends pregnant women should have access to vaccinations.
The CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have made similar recommendations, saying pregnant women who are part of a group recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine may choose to be vaccinated.
“So the recommendation still is that they are considered an at-risk group, potentially, so they should be someone that considers getting the vaccine,” Huls added.
Arizona’s COVID-19 vaccination plan by the Arizona Department of Health Services lists pregnant women as a sub-priority population to consider for vaccination within the phases. According to their estimates, there are about 72,500 pregnant women in Arizona.
“These individuals would still be vaccinated depending on where they fall into the phases infographic,” ADHS Communications Director Steve Elliott told KTAR News in an email. “Because there is limited data on COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant, we encourage individuals to talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, the Maricopa County Department of Health also does not have pregnant women on its priority list for vaccinations. However, if they are part of a group that is recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, they may choose to be vaccinated.
