Expectant mothers with COVID 4 to 11 times more likely to need intensive care

Dr. Joss Reimer is addressing things people may have been hearing about the COVID-19 vaccine regarding women's menstrual health and fertility.

The doctor is answering COVID-19 vaccine questions regarding women's health topics that she says people may be talking about.

"I want to be able to reassure you about the vaccine in all of these settings," Reimer says in a Wednesday press conference.

Reimer, aside from her Public Health work, specializes in women's health and sexual health.

As of June 19, 640 expecting Manitobans contracted COVID-19.

 

Fertility

Reimer says various studies are showing the COVID-19 vaccine has no impact on fertility.

"None of the COVID vaccines cause infertility. None of them will affect a future pregnancy," Reimer says. "Another study looked at people who were already experiencing infertility before the vaccine, and found they were just as likely as anyone else to achieve pregnancy after the vaccine."

 

Pregnancy

A study following a total of six thousand expectant mothers in each of Canada's provinces and territories looked at how the COVID-19 vaccine impacts them.

"If you are pregnant, you are at an increased risk for severe outcomes for COVID-19, so vaccination should be top of mind and a healthcare priority throughout your pregnancy."

Reimer says the risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19 quadruples if pregnant. Early reports from the third wave are showing there is now an increased risk by 11 times, compared to their non-expectant peers.

"I want to be very clear: Scientific evidence demonstrates that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. There is no evidence that exists that suggests any vaccines, including those that protect you for COVID-19 pose a clear health risk to people that are pregnant, nor to the unborn children."

Reimer says not only does it not pose a risk, but there are benefits for the fetus. The mother's antibodies that she develops in response to the vaccine can be passed along to the child, protecting them after they are born.

 

Breastfeeding

Reimer says the antibodies the mother develops after being vaccinated can be transferred to her breast milk.

"There is a potential that consuming breast milk can help protect the child from serious illness related to COVID."

Studied found the antibodies in the milk two weeks after the mother got a vaccine, and say they increase in the two weeks after that. The antibodies in the milk two weeks after that.

 

Menstruation

Some women across the world have been reporting changes to their menstrual cycle, saying it has been arriving earlier, is heavier or lighter, or more painful.

"In reality, the impact of the vaccine on menstruation is not a heavily studied area of medicine," she says. "We don't believe vaccines impact periods."

Reimer says while theoretically possible for the uterus's immune cells to be impacted, she says changing periods are likely due to environmental factors and would have been different with or without the vaccine.