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State reminds pregnant women and women of child-bearing age that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, highly effective
CDC encourages pregnant and breastfeeding women to get vaccinated as quickly as possible
SANTA FE- The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reminded women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future that vaccines are safe and highly effective against COVID-19.
The federal Centers for Disease Control recently issued guidance emphasizing the benefits of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. In particular, pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. These severe illnesses can include hospitalization, intensive care, need for a ventilator or special equipment to assist breathing, and death. According to the CDC, “Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of preterm birth and might be at increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes, compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.”
These realities make it all the more important for women of child-bearing age to get vaccinated.
In addition, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes fertility problems in either men or women.
“Women want nothing more than to keep their babies safe - and to keep themselves safe so they can take good care of their babies. Getting vaccinated is a key part of doing so,” said DOH Deputy Secretary Dr. Laura Parajon.
If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, please talk to your provider about receiving the vaccine or schedule a vaccine appointment at https://vaccineNM.org.
Pregnant individuals who have COVID-19 symptoms – or who have been in close contact with a positive case – are encouraged to get tested. A searchable list of testing sites is available at https://findatestnm.org/.
For more information regarding the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant, please visit the CDC site COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant.
Media Contact
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Versión en Español
En un esfuerzo para hacer que nuestros comunicados de prensa sean más accesibles, también tenemos disponibles una versión en español. Por favor presione el enlace de abajo para acceder a la traducción.