Unvaccinated pregnant women with Covid-19 at higher risk of serious illness, can transmit virus to baby, Health News & Top Stories

SINGAPORE – Pregnant women infected with Covid-19 are at higher risk of serious illness and complications, and some can even pass the virus to their babies.

However, those who are vaccinated have a lower risk of catching the coronavirus, and could pass antibodies to their newborn baby.

These were the key messages presented by a panel of medical experts during a webinar on Saturday, November 27.

Co-organized by the College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists Singapore (COGS), the Obstetrical & Gynecological Society of Singapore and the Perinatal Society of Singapore, the session aimed to address concerns that pregnant women might have about getting the vaccine.

One of the speakers, Dr Serene Thain, consultant in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Department at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), noted that in the past month or so, about 98.7% of all local cases of Covid-19 were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.

In contrast, a smaller proportion – around 79.1% of local Covid-19 cases who were pregnant – were asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. This means that about 21% had moderate, severe or critical symptoms as a result of the infection.

Such statistics are also reflected in studies abroad, such as those conducted in the United States or Britain, Dr Thain said.

Dr Thain added that pregnant women tend to be at higher risk due to the various physiological changes they undergo during pregnancy.

“Pregnancy in itself is already additional stress on the body, not to mention if there is an additional stressor of Covid-19 infection on top of it,” she said. .

Pregnant women with Covid-19 are also two to three times more likely to have premature births. Indeed, doctors often have to deliver babies of women severely infected with Covid-19 earlier than expected in order to help them recover.

“(For) people with more serious illness or those who need supplemental oxygen or intubation, childbirth will help improve the mother’s heart and lung functions,” Dr. Thain.

Other problems caused by infection during pregnancy include a doubling of the risk of stillbirth and a 1½ times higher risk of preeclampsia, a condition where blood pressure rises and can lead to seizures, fits or death. the mother.

What’s more, in about 3% of cases, mothers with Covid-19 can pass the disease to their newborns, said Dr Yeo Kee Thai, a consultant in the KKH Department of Neonatology.

Some may develop symptoms such as signs of respiratory failure, difficulty feeding, diarrhea, vomiting, irritability, and lethargy.

But while infected mothers can pass the disease to their newborns, vaccinated mothers can pass antibodies to them, Dr. Yeo noted.

Citing several studies abroad, Dr Yeo said that antibodies can be transferred through the placenta to the unborn baby, which can protect the child from future infection.

He added, “If you get vaccinated you would have antibodies secreted into breast milk. And when the baby drinks breast milk, we know it can potentially provide immunity or protection against this infection.”

Associate Professor Tan Lay Kok, President of COGS, noted that in September, more than 85% of pregnant women hospitalized for Covid-19 were not vaccinated.

Of these, 20 percent presented severe symptoms and required oxygen, while 10 percent required care in high addiction wards or the intensive care unit.

The KKH saw 91 cases of pregnant women infected with Covid-19 from May to the end of October, added Professor Tan. Most were in their third trimester, with only 33% fully immunized.

Thirteen of 91 women, none of whom were fully vaccinated, developed pneumonia, he noted.

Professor Tan said that many studies have shown that mRNA vaccines, such as those from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, are safe for pregnant women.

“Vaccination against Covid-19 during pregnancy is safe. Infection with Covid-19 during pregnancy is not. We therefore strongly recommend vaccination against Covid-19 for pregnant women using the vaccines. to mRNA, ”he added.