After pregnant women were moved into the highest priority group for Covid vaccinations, a senior North East midwife has urged every expectant mum to get their booster vaccine.
The Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust is also laying on extra vaccination clinics to help get jabs to those most in need.
Last week, experts from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations added those who are pregnant as a priority group for jabs.
This came after researchers from Oxford University found that women in the later stages of pregnancy and their babies were at increased risk if they became infected.
Go here for the latest coronavirus updates and breaking Covid-19 news
The research found that in the UK, 17 pregnant women died during the Delta wave of the pandemic – that equates to a 50% increase in maternal mortality, while the team also found that, of 1,436 pregnant women admitted to hospital during the Delta wave, one in three required respiratory support.
Of those admitted to hospital with Covid-19, 96% were unvaccinated, and this was found to increase the risk of stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and pre-term birth.
Northumbria Healthcare has been running specialist clinics for pregnant members of the public to ensure they can get their booster jabs.
Clinics have been held across Northumberland and North Tyneside, and this comes after the maternity unit at the RVI in Newcastle began a similar service.
Carla Anderson, a public health midwife at Northumbria Healthcare NHS said: "We understand how complex the messaging has been around pregnant people and the Covid vaccine.
"As we have learnt more since the development of the vaccine, it is now clear that there is a real benefit for those pregnant people who receive their jab.
"We absolutely support the JCVI’s decision to classify pregnant people as vulnerable - there has been a lot of hesitancy around the vaccination but it has been proven that getting the Covid-19 vaccination is the best way to protect you and your baby from the effects of the disease.
"Please don’t delay in getting yours."
Since August 10 2021, over 200 pregnant or breastfeeding women in Northumberland and North Tyneside have accepted the vaccine after speaking to one of the local midwives.
A specialist clinic at the North Tyneside General Hospital maternity unit will run on December 30 from 9am until 12pm.
Walk-in appointments welcoming those who are pregnant are also available at the Oxford Centre in Benton from 9am until 1pm on December 28. There will also be sessions at the Village Surgery in Cramlington.
