In their third report, CITF-funded researcher Dr. Deshayne Fell and her team at the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) in Ontario found that 58.7% of people who were pregnant in September 2021 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy. Since pregnant individuals are considered a high-risk population for COVID-19 complications based on higher rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, and death, compared with non-pregnant individuals, it is noteworthy that, among those pregnant in September 2021, 41.3% were still unvaccinated.

Key points:

  • Between December 14, 2020, and September 30, 2021 – the period covered in this third report – there were 64,234 pregnant individuals in Ontario who received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy.
  • Estimated monthly COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the pregnant population has increased during each month of the reporting period.
  • 7% of people who were pregnant in September 2021 had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy.
  • Of concern, 41.3% of people who were pregnant in September 2021 still had not received any doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Among individuals who were pregnant in September 2021, there were marked differences, by both age and neighbourhood income, in the percentage that had received at least one dose before or during pregnancy:
    • Among those ≥35 years of age, 62.8% had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy, whereas among pregnant people <25 years of age, only 36.3% had received at least one dose.
    • Among pregnant individuals living in the lowest income neighbourhoods in Ontario, 56.1% had received at least one dose, whereas among those living in the highest income neighbourhoods, 72.1% had received at least one dose.

This project uses data from BORN Ontario’s Registry, which routinely collects maternal and newborn data from all hospitals and midwifery practice groups in Ontario and is linked with the Ontario Ministry of Health’s COVaxON database, which includes COVID-19 immunization events. The research team continues to evaluate and regularly report on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals in Ontario.

You can read the full Report #3: December 14, 2020 to September 30, 2021 on the BORN Ontario website here.