THE doctor leading the Covid vaccination programme in Bolton has urged pregnant women to get immunised after being shocked at the number of expectant mothers being admitted to hospital after contracting the virus.

Dr Helen Wall has implored pregnant women and those breastfeeding or hoping to conceive to attend clinics in Bolton for vaccination or to seek advice after she was left reeling by the number of serious cases.

She said: “I feel sick to hear the stats on pregnant women with Covid.

“Two hundred admitted to hospital last week with one in 10 ending up on critical care.

“Increased stillbirths and prematurity.

“It’s getting harder and harder to stomach this when we have ample means to stop it.”

In the past week Bolton GP Federation chief nurse, Kath Arrowsmith, has also talked the importance of being vaccinated against Covid while pregnant, and urged all women with any concerns about the vaccine to seek guidance.

She said: “As a general practice nurse I have always been passionate about the immunisation programme in the UK.

“In this country we have eradicated many infectious diseases through the work which is mainly carried out at practice level.

“Administering those first vaccines to an eight-week-old baby ensures we are giving them the best start in life and protecting them from potentially life-threatening infections.

“During pregnancy mums are offered the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy and the whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks gestation.

“Providing these vaccines to mum is the first stage of protecting their babies and a very important start which will provide them with protection until they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves at eight weeks.

“The Covid vaccines are not live vaccines, like the flu and whooping cough vaccines, which we routinely give in pregnancy in the UK.

“Pregnant women can become unwell from Covid, the same way as everyone else, but the sad thing is they are more at risk of developing complications and becoming more unwell and then of course this can affect the unborn baby too.”

Mrs Arrowsmith said that in her experience, pregnant women needing critical care with the virus had not previously had their jabs.

She, said: “Sadly, we have seen pregnant women with Covid in ICU.

“We know those women had not been vaccinated and that is why we are urging anyone with any doubts to have a chat with one of the team.

“We are here to support you and help you to make the right decision for you and your unborn baby.

“You will not be pressurised in any way, but you will have access to experts who can provide you with evidence-based facts about Covid-19 and vaccines.

“As a mother and a grandmother, I am aware of how difficult it can be to have to make decisions surrounding health during pregnancy and the health of our unborn babies.

“We all want the best for our children, and we understand women have questions which need answering.

“I want to invite anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding and those planning a family to come along to any of the vaccination sites in Bolton, the teams are there to support you.”