Widower urges people to get Covid vaccine after wife dies hours after giving birth

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A husband whose unvaccinated wife died of Covid-19 soon after she gave birth to her baby girl is urging others not to delay getting vaccinated.

Samantha Willis, 35, of Derry, Northern Ireland, died last Friday at Altnagelvin Hospital, before she could meet or even get pregnant with her newborn, Eviegrace.

The mother of four has not been vaccinated and her grieving husband Josh Willis is now urging others to get theirs so they don’t have to go through what he’s been through.

Josh Willis shared this photo of his wife Samantha after she passed away with Covid-19. Credit: Facebook / Josh Willis

He wrote about the loss of his “superhero” wife in a Facebook post, calling Friday “the worst day of my life.”

He wrote: “I never thought I would write something like this for years to come, if ever. Today was the worst day of my life. I lost the love of my life Samantha to Covid-19.”

Samantha died with her husband, mother, and two firstborn children at her side. Josh said she was not in any pain when she died.

Husband Josh at Samantha’s funeral with his newborn daughter Eviegrace, carried by a relative. credit: PA

He continued, “While in the hospital, she also had to give birth to our newest addition to the family that she never met properly or held her in her arms.

“I will make sure that Eviegrace will know all about the mother you will never meet.

“I will never let anyone forget you and I will remember all the special times and experiences we shared together.”

Mr Willis described his wife as “a wonderful, loving and caring person who has been our superhero for the past few weeks”.

He added, “She is now our guardian angel and will remain in our hearts and thoughts forever. We love you so much and miss you.

“We wish we could help you come home to live the rest of your life with us. I will never stop loving you and we will do everything we can to make you proud until we see you again.

“Sleep well my queen. I love you.”

He also thanked all the employees of the Altnagelvin Hospital.

A GoFundMe page was created to raise money for the Samantha family.

Mr Willis urged others to appeal, writing on Twitter: “I spent hours in the intensive care unit on Thursday/Friday with my wife who passed away.

“It’s real, the numbers are real. Get your vaccine so you or your family don’t have to go through what you had to.

“As I write this, I lay her by her side, she is 35, undefended and in a coffin. Let this sink in!”

In July, it was found that 99% of pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid-19 were not vaccinated.

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Researchers at Oxford University called their findings “alarming”, saying that one in 10 pregnant women admitted to hospital with Covid-19 symptoms often required intensive care.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) said Covid-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients known to be harmful to pregnant women or developing babies.

She added: “Studies conducted on vaccines in animals to look at their effects on pregnancy have not shown any evidence that the vaccine causes harm to pregnancy or fertility.”

The Covid vaccines used in the UK are not “live” vaccines, so the RCOG makes them not to cause Covid-19 infection in an adult or unborn child.

Non-live vaccines have previously been shown to be safe during pregnancy (eg, influenza, whooping cough). Pregnant women are given other non-live vaccines, such as the flu shots.

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