US Recommends COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women

South Korean Government Establishes Q4 Vaccination Plan for Pregnant Women
NYSE and McDonald's Mandate Vaccinations

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended COVID-19 vaccination for all pregnant women. This is because the vaccine does not increase the risk of miscarriage, and pregnant women infected with the Delta variant are more likely to develop severe symptoms.

Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, stated in a press release on the 11th (local time), "Serious situations are occurring among unvaccinated pregnant women due to the highly contagious Delta variant," adding, "Increasing vaccination is more urgent than ever."

Accordingly, pregnant women in the U.S. can receive any of the three vaccines that have received emergency approval: Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson. The CDC also recommends vaccination for those currently breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant.

This decision comes as confirmed cases among pregnant women, previously excluded from vaccination targets, have increased due to the recent spread of the Delta variant. Local media reported, "In some states with low vaccination rates, the number of pregnant women infected with COVID-19 has increased compared to last winter."

The CDC had previously recommended that pregnant women consider vaccination but had not issued a full endorsement. Currently, the vaccination rate among pregnant women is only 23%.

Director Walensky emphasized that the vaccines are safe and effective. In fact, a study of 2,500 pregnant women under 20 weeks gestation who received at least one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines showed that vaccination did not increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

Our government plans to establish a vaccination plan for pregnant women, aiming for vaccination in the fourth quarter of this year, after consulting experts.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, considering the Delta variant, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) announced on the same day that starting September 13, only those who have completed vaccination will be allowed to enter the trading floor. McDonald's also announced that it will delay office returns by more than a month and mandate vaccination for employees.

The NYSE currently requires proof of vaccination for those ringing the opening or closing bell or visiting the exchange for an initial public offering (IPO). The trading floor is a representative space symbolizing the NYSE. CNBC explained, "This guideline expands the vaccination mandate to include employees working on the trading floor."

The NYSE also decided to include vaccinated individuals in random COVID-19 testing. Since vaccinated people can also be infected with the Delta variant, they are not exempted.

This move by the NYSE reflects recent actions by major U.S. companies such as Walmart, Microsoft, and Disney, which have mandated vaccination and delayed office return dates in response to the spread of the Delta variant.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.