The rate of stillborn births in unvaccinated mothers in Mississippi has doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, raising concerns among researchers that the virus has additional unforeseen complications for pregnancies, the Washington Post reports.
The statistic is based on unvaccinated people from the start of the pandemic in January 2020, including the time a vaccine was not available. It includes fetal deaths that occurred 20 weeks after gestation.
Mississippi recorded 72 fetal deaths since January 2020, double the number expected based on the number of pregnancies reported. The state is also investigating the deaths of eight pregnant women over the past four weeks as the delta variant surged in the state.
“We encourage you to please get vaccinated,” said State Epidemiologist Paul Byers, noting that his daughter had recently delivered a healthy baby after rolling up her sleeve. “That’s going to be the best way to ensure that you and your babies stay healthy.”
Recent studies have shown that pregnant women risk greater complications and more serious bouts of coronavirus. Encouraging vaccines would be prudent to protect the life of the woman and the fetus, but Mississippi’s Republican leadership has stated it will not mandate vaccines or masks to protect the public health.