As pregnant people in Ontario moved up in the provincesa国际传媒檚 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 sa国际传媒渉ighest risksa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� congenital or acquired sa国际传媒� that requires them to see a cardiac specialist during their pregnancy. These individuals are eligible for a vaccine under B.C.sa国际传媒檚 .

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 sa国际传媒渉ighest risksa国际传媒� health conditions in Phase Two of the provincesa国际传媒檚 vaccine rollout.

sa国际传媒� Christine Elliott (@celliottability)

B.C.sa国际传媒檚 Ministry of Health encourages pregnant people to get protected with the vaccine once theysa国际传媒檙e eligible, a spokesperson told Black Press Media Friday.

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sa国际传媒淥ur immunization program is targeted to immunize those who are at the highest risk of COVID-19,sa国际传媒� said the ministrysa国际传媒檚 Marielle Tounsi, in a statement. She added that the provincesa国际传媒檚 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 theysa国际传媒檒l sa国际传媒渟tart to add additional priority groupssa国际传媒� 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 theysa国际传媒檙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.

sa国际传媒淎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,sa国际传媒� 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 Canadasa国际传媒檚 approved vaccines didnsa国际传媒檛 focus on pregnant women, theresa国际传媒檚 no evidence of harm to them or their babies.

sa国际传媒淎dverse events among pregnant women are also monitored in Canada and there has been no reason for concern so far,sa国际传媒� Lisonkova said.

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