By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department wholeheartedly concurs with CDC advice this week encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and to get vaccinations in general.
"Absolutely," Hammersmith said. "When you're pregnant, it throws your body into a whole different state of healthiness. Yes, you may be a healthy pregnant woman, but your body is in a stress state, so, you're incubating another humanbeing. All of that has been thrown. It's extremely important to get your flu vaccine and also the COVID vaccine. They also give a TDAP, which is your tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster. That's for you so that you don't get that, but it also gives the baby more protection."
A strong immune system is important for both mom and baby.
"You are getting some antibodies and you're passing those on to the baby," Hammersmith said. "It's extremely important to get those vaccines for a pregnant woman."
According to CDC data, through September 27, 2021, there have been 125,250 cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women with 161 deaths.