Mum-to-be urges pregnant women across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to get COVID-19 vaccine

A Stoke-on-Trent woman who is currently eight months pregnant has helped to produce a video to encourage other people in Staffordshire who are pregnant to get their COVID-19 vaccine. Katie Dale, who lives in Newcastle-under-Lyme, talks about making the decision to get the vaccine, her experience at the vaccination centre and how getting the jab makes her feel safer. Katie, who works as Head of Communications for Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is helping Together We’re Better, the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) to promote the message that it is safe for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying for a baby to get the jab. She said: “My experience of getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a really positive one. I definitely feel much more reassured about going out and about, going to hospital appointments and medical appointments and coming into contact with other people. “I feel like being double vaccinated has just given me that little bit more extra assurance around my own health and wellbeing during the pregnancy so it's definitely something that I'm really pleased that I have done. “It's a really good way of knowing that if you were to get coronavirus that the risk to yourself and your baby is much less, and you are much less likely to be severely unwell. So, it's something that you should really take seriously along with all the other vaccinations that you need during your pregnancy.” Dr Paddy Hannigan, Clinical Lead for the vaccination programme, said: "We would like to thank Katie for sharing her experiences and would urge anyone who is pregnant to get their COVID-19 vaccination. "The vaccination is safe and as the latest data shows that nearly one in five of the most critically ill COVID patients are unvaccinated pregnant women it is extremely important that they book a jab as soon as they can." For more information about getting COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy visit https://www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk/coronavirus/advice-if-you-re-of-childbearing-age-pregnant-or-breastfeeding Appointments for vaccines can be booked online through the National Booking System by visiting www.nhs.uk, or by calling 119. Up-to-date details and times for all Staffordshire COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinics can be found at https://www.twbstaffsandstoke.org.uk/coronavirus/how-to-get-a-vaccine-where-and-travelling VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/Ll_2chhsy50