Maternal Mortality and COVID-19

SEMPQIC prioritized increasing the COVID-19 vaccination rate in pregnant persons. Specifically, we aim to reduce the disparity between Black pregnant persons and White pregnant persons in terms of getting COVID-19 and the devastating complications on maternal and infant health. Black pregnant persons are 3 to 4 times more likely to have COVID-19 complications compared to White pregnant persons. Disparities and complications related to maternal and infant health is evident in newly released findings from MDHHS regarding the CDC COVID-19 Pregnancy and Neonate Surveillance Project. The purpose of the Surveillance Project is to identify people diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy, to identify disparities and better understand how COVID-19 affect pregnant people and their infants. (Completed data will be shared at the September 19, 2023 SEMPQIC meeting).

In 2020, 1,288 pregnant people in Michigan diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy were identified for a cohort in the CDC COVID-19 Pregnancy and Neonate Surveillance Project. In the “COVID-19 and Pregnancy” fact sheet, the findings convey the negative health effects COVID-19 has on pregnant people and infants. 

This topic will be a primary focus and new data will be shared at the September 19, 2023 SEMPQIC meeting. We encourage you to attend.