Although the overall risk to pregnant women and newborn babies from Covid-19 is low, some women who have caught the virus in later pregnancy have become seriously unwell and needed hospital treatment.
Pregnant women with Covid are at greater risk of needing intensive care than women of the same age who are not pregnant, and are 2 or 3 times more likely to have their babies early than women without Covid-19.
Pregnant women with underlying clinical conditions such as immune problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and asthma are at even higher risk of suffering serious complications from Covid-19.
The special vaccination clinic will take place at Alfred Squire Health Centre, Alfred Squire Road, Wednesfield WV11 1XU on Wednesday from 9am to 6pm, and any pregnant woman who hasn’t had their first jab, or their second dose which is due 8 weeks later, is welcome. Alternatively, they can attend one of the many regular walk in centres operating throughout the week. Please note, clinics are subject to change, so please check the website, for latest details.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Covid-19 case numbers are still high in Wolverhampton and infections can be serious for pregnant women.
"The vaccine offers you the best protection you can get against Covid-19 and has been shown to be safe – it does not contain live coronavirus and cannot infect a pregnant woman or her unborn baby in the womb.
"It's also safe to have your vaccine if you are breastfeeding, and doing so is recommended by both the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the World Health Organization.
“I would urge any pregnant woman who hasn’t yet had their first jab, or is now due their second, to come along to Wednesday’s special clinic or one of our other walk in sites, and get their lifesaving vaccination.”
She added: "As no vaccines are 100% effective, you should also continue to do everything you can to keep yourself safe from Covid-19 by practicing Hands, Face and Space. You may want to consider limiting close contact with people you do not normally meet, and you should get a regular rapid test to reassure yourself and others that you don’t have the virus.”
Covid-19 vaccinations are available without an appointment at dozens of walk in clinics held in Wolverhampton each week; details of locations, times and dates plus vaccine type available can be found at Walk in vaccinations. Vaccinations can also be booked online at Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines or by calling NHS 119.
For more information about the vaccine, including the answers to frequently asked questions, please visit Covid-19 Vaccine or Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination.
For details of rapid testing – for people without symptoms of Covid-19 – please visit Lateral Flow Home Test Kits . People are reminded that, if they develop symptoms of Covid-19, they must book a PCR via GOV.UK or by calling 119.
Latest figures show there were 361.9 new cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 people in Wolverhampton over the last 7 days. That means 952 people tested positive for the virus in that same period – though the true number of new cases will likely be higher.
