COVID infections during pregnancy linked to higher risks

Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are more likely to have a severe infection, be hospitalized and need a ventilator, experts say. But as of last month, only 23% have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine during pregnancy, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

"We need to impress upon women how serious COVID infection in pregnancy could be," said Dr. Laura Riley, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Pregnant women hear a chorus of, 'Don't eat that, don't take that, don't put anything into your body.' And so, the natural reaction is, 'Oh maybe I shouldn't.' But here we're saying, this is a prevention that is going to save you, potentially from something far worse," Riley added.