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Bowling Green OB-GYN Urges Pregnant Women to Take COVID Vaccine

Med Center Health

A Bowling Green physician is encouraging pregnant women to follow the recommendation of two major medical groups when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine.  

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommend the shots for all expectant and nursing moms. 

Dr. Madison Moscow, an OB-GYN for Med Center Health in Bowling Green, has seen the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy.

“I took care of pregnant mothers in the ICU last summer that required mechanical ventilation," recalled Moscow. "I remember one mother who wasn’t even able to see her baby face to face until he was one month old, because she was in a medically-induced coma and we weren’t sure she would survive.”

COVID-19 during pregnancy increases risks for severe complications and can also increase chances for pre-term birth. 

Pregnant women weren’t included in studies that led to emergency authorization of the vaccines, but the CDC says available safety information is reassuring. In most cases, pregnant women who started getting immunized in December when vaccines became available, have since delivered healthy babies.  

Research also shows that nursing moms who have received the vaccine have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies against the virus. 

While local data isn’t available, only about 16% of pregnant women in the U.S. are currently vaccinated, according to CDC figures. Vaccination rates are lowest among Black and Hispanic expectant moms.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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