Flu, COVID-19: Low vaccination rates put pregnant women at risk
Nataly Saldanha earned the title of “top-notch pregnant woman” at the health clinic where she receives prenatal care in Rio de Janeiro. At 39 weeks pregnant, she is expecting Noely to arrive in the coming days and is proud to have attended all her appointments and undergone all the recommended tests, followed her health care providers’ guidance closely, and kept her vaccinations up to date. “I’ve…
Pregnant women in Brazil face a significant risk due to low vaccination rates against influenza and COVID-19, according to a report by Agência Brasil. Nataly Saldanha, a 39-weeks pregnant woman, credits her healthy pregnancy partly to her up-to-date vaccinations. Similarly, Raissa Silva de Oliveira, also 34 weeks pregnant, emphasizes her belief in scientific approaches to health. However, not all pregnant women share this level of preparedness.
In 2025, just 55% of pregnant women were vaccinated against COVID-19 and 63% against the flu in the Southeast, South, Northeast, and Midwest regions of Brazil. Preliminary data indicates a slightly higher flu vaccination rate of 76% for this year, but the COVID-19 vaccination rate remains at 55%. The Ministry of Health aims for 90% coverage for both vaccines.
The impact of low vaccination rates has been tragic. From 2023 to early August 2026, at least 286 pregnant women or women who had recently given birth developed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to an influenza subtype, resulting in 25 deaths, including seven this year. COVID-19 caused at least 205 severe cases, leading to 21 deaths. During the pandemic's peak years of 2020, 2021, and 2022, there were 3,547 SARS cases among pregnant women or new mothers, with nearly 25% of these women dying.
Flávia Bravo, director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations, highlights complacency around influenza vaccinations and misinformation about COVID-19 as key factors in these figures. She notes that vaccination has effectively reduced these rates, with monthly case rates falling to one-third of their previous level and mortality rates reduced to nearly one-fifth.
However, respiratory viruses are the primary cause of SARS among pregnant and postpartum women, and identifying the exact virus responsible can be difficult, potentially leading to even higher proportions of deaths.
The Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women receive four additional vaccines through Brazil's national public health system. These vaccines are crucial in protecting the health of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy.
Written by urgent.news from Agencia Brasil's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
