Pregnant people, new parents urged to take advantage of region's home vaccination visits

Although people who are pregnant were on the priority list for getting the COVID-19 vaccine, Dr. Sharon Bal says there's still many in Waterloo region who have not gotten the shot.

Bal, a family physician in Cambridge who also sits on the region's COVID-19 task force, says this group is at a higher risk of developing complications from the virus. Canadian researchers tracking the impact of COVID-19 during pregnancy have found people who are pregnant face significantly higher risks of serious illness requiring hospitalization, ICU admission, or life support.

"In this population, we have lower rates of vaccination than those in the general eligible population," Bal said during a media briefing on Friday.

She said provincial numbers show about 60 per cent of pregnant people are vaccinated compared to 81 per cent of the general population.

Bal said while initial studies early in the pandemic excluded pregnant people, "there is increasing real world evidence of both efficacy and safety" of the vaccine for those who are pregnant and breastfeeding.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization both say COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who are pregnant and breastfeeding.

Vickie Murray, the lead for the region's vaccination task force, encouraged pregnant people to take advantage of its home-based vaccination program. 

People fill out a form on the region's website to request a home vaccination visit and anyone can do it, Murray said.

In particular, she said, pregnant people or new parents may find it convenient at a time when it's difficult to leave home.

"The home-based vaccine program would be a great option for them and I would want to encourage them to use that to make their lives a little bit easier," Murray said. 

"We have capacity and I would love to see that program grow."