Pregnant women have been put on the covid vaccine priority list as the government calls for them to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
There is growing evidence showing that women who are pregnant are at increased risk of serious consequences from coronavirus, with the majority of pregnant women who have been admitted to hospital with severe COVID-19 being unvaccinated.
As a result, they are being considered a clinical risk group within the coronavirus vaccination programme.
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Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UKHSA, said: "The serious risks posed to women who become infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy have become increasingly clear.
"We know that the vaccines used in the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme have been highly effective in preventing serious complications and those recommended for pregnant women have a good safety record.
"I would urge all pregnant women to come forward and get their vaccine without delay. This is the best way to protect you and your baby."
Recent data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) adds to the existing international evidence, which has not identified any safety concerns of vaccinating women during pregnancy.
Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of JCVI COVID-19 immunisation, said:" There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines used in pregnancy increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, congenital abnormalities or birth complications. Having a UK approved COVID-19 vaccine is safer than having COVID-19 itself.
" Women who are pregnant are strongly encouraged to have a first, second or booster vaccine dose as appropriate in order to better protect yourself and your baby from any serious consequences from COVID-19."
Pregnant women who have completed their primary vaccine course should book their COVID-19 booster if they had their second vaccine dose at least 3 months earlier.
Support from midwifery, charities and local community leaders will be required to help to improve the vaccine uptake amongst pregnant women.
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