As pregnant people in Ontario moved up in the province含羞草研究社檚 priority vaccination list Friday, their counterparts in B.C. still have to wait their turn in the age-based roll-out.

All pregnant Ontarians were moved into the 含羞草研究社渉ighest risk含羞草研究社� category, which is being vaccinated right now, on April 23. But on the West Coast, expectant British Columbians are only prioritized if they also have a serious heart condition 含羞草研究社� congenital or acquired 含羞草研究社� that requires them to see a cardiac specialist during their pregnancy. These individuals are eligible for a vaccine under B.C.含羞草研究社檚 .

This means pregnant parents without a heart condition, have to wait their turn in the jab roll-out.

As of April 23, all pregnant individuals can register for vaccination appointments under the 含羞草研究社渉ighest risk含羞草研究社� health conditions in Phase Two of the province含羞草研究社檚 vaccine rollout.

含羞草研究社� Christine Elliott (@celliottability)

B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Ministry of Health encourages pregnant people to get protected with the vaccine once they含羞草研究社檙e eligible, a spokesperson told Black Press Media Friday.

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含羞草研究社淥ur immunization program is targeted to immunize those who are at the highest risk of COVID-19,含羞草研究社� said the ministry含羞草研究社檚 Marielle Tounsi, in a statement. She added that the province含羞草研究社檚 vaccination focus is on the age-based program, offering AstraZeneca to people 40 and over in pharmacies, CEV groups and outbreak management.

The ministry said vaccine deployment decisions are based on the best available science and evidence, and that they含羞草研究社檒l 含羞草研究社渟tart to add additional priority groups含羞草研究社� as they get more vaccines.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control says than the general population to end up in the intensive care unit if they含羞草研究社檙e infected with COVID-19.

Sarka Lisonkova, a perinatal epidemiologist, said those pregnant ICU patients with COVID-19 can require a high level of care, including machine breathing support, and are at higher risk of dying if that happens.

含羞草研究社淎lthough the actual risk of severe illness and death among pregnant women is very low, it is higher when compared to non-pregnant women from the same age group,含羞草研究社� she told Black Press Media.

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Pregnant people who are hesitant to get vaccinated could be putting themselves at risk. Lisonkova, a University of B.C. associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said contracting COVID-19 while pregnant can increase the risk of premature births, especially for those with severe illness.

The BCCDC says getting a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant causes no known increased risk of miscarriages or birth defects. Lisonkova agreed, saying although the clinical trials for Canada含羞草研究社檚 approved vaccines didn含羞草研究社檛 focus on pregnant women, there含羞草研究社檚 no evidence of harm to them or their babies.

含羞草研究社淎dverse events among pregnant women are also monitored in Canada and there has been no reason for concern so far,含羞草研究社� Lisonkova said.

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