Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Issues Statement on Pregnancy Health
and COVID-19
On September 29, 2021, the
CDC issued a health advisory recommending urgent action to encourage people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including people breastfeeding), who are trying to become pregnant or who might become pregnant in the future, to receive the COVID-19
vaccine.
In August 2021, the CDC
updated their guidance to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for all people age 12 and older, including people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those
who are lactating), trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the
future. The CDC strongly recommends the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent serious illness, deaths and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The benefits for mom and baby of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh
any known or potential risks of vaccination before, during or after pregnancy.
Despite this CDC recommendation and evidence indicating that COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective during pregnancy,
currently only 31% of pregnant people overall are fully vaccinated prior to or during pregnancy. That percentage drops to 25% for Hispanic or Latino pregnant people and 15.6% for pregnant non-Hispanic Black women, revealing persistent health disparities.
Find where to get vaccinated near you on the
federal Vaccine Finder website. Learn more about
pregnancy and COVID-19 on the DSHS coronavirus webpage.
Additionally, you can access the Maternal and Child Health Bureau-funded resource,
MotherToBaby. This provides up-to-date evidence-based information on the effects of COVID-19 and the vaccine during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Access it via chat, text, phone, or email.
Now Available For Providers: Order COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy Poster Through DSHS
DSHS' TexasAIM program has a free poster to encourage pregnant people, people who are breastfeeding, and people trying to get pregnant now or in the future, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Providers can now order the 17 X 24 posters from the Health and Human Services/DSHS Warehouse. Put these posters in hospitals, clinics, or other places where families visit.
You can also download and print the color and black and white 8.5 X 11 posters from the links below.
Social Media Content to Promote Awareness About COVID-19 Vaccines
Use DSHS' social media content about pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines through the DSHS Basecamp website.
If you choose to use DSHS' social media content, please tag @TexasDSHS when sharing the graphics or videos on social media. We recommend using the "Pregnancy, Fertility and COVID-19 Vaccines" graphics all together.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and help protect mothers and babies. There is no evidence of miscarriages, stillbirths, or preterm births linked to COVID-19 vaccines.
We need your help to encourage this population to get vaccinated. Together we can help protect Texas mothers, mothers-to-be and babies against COVID-19.
More COVID-19 vaccine information is available on the DSHS coronavirus webpage.
TexasAIM’s Bundle: Severe Hypertension in
Pregnancy
The TexasAIM Plus Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Learning Collaborative enrollment is closed. If you want to enroll in TexasAIM for the Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle, please follow the below steps and contact the program at TexasAIM@dshs.texas.gov:
- Review the
TexasAIM Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Hospital Enrollment Information Packet PDF with your hospital team. This document guides your team through the various steps of enrolling in TexasAIM for the Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle.
- Complete the
TexasAIM Hospital Enrollment Form. To reference the questions on the enrollment form,
download the Enrollment Form PDF. Enrollment will only be accepted through the online
TexasAIM Hospital Enrollment Form.
- Once your hospital has completed the TexasAIM Enrollment Form, your hospital’s CEO must complete and submit the
Agreement to Participate within five business days.
Even if your hospital was previously enrolled in TexasAIM for
the Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle, you must complete the enrollment form and
supporting documents to enroll in TexasAIM for the Severe Hypertension in
Pregnancy Bundle and reconfirm your commitment to this work.
There is no deadline to enroll in TexasAIM Basic for Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at
TexasAIM@dshs.texas.gov.
TexasAIM
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has teamed up with the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) and the Texas Hospital Association (THA) to create the TexasAIM initiative. TexasAIM will help hospitals and clinics in Texas carry
out maternal safety projects.
Our goal is to end preventable maternal death and severe maternal morbidity. DSHS has put together a team of experts to guide the implementation of AIM throughout Texas.
What is AIM?
AIM is a program used by hospitals and communities across the country. AIM helps hospitals and communities improve maternal safety through implementing best-practices. They work with state teams and health systems to achieve these goals.
Find more information on AIM on the
About AIM
webpage.
AIM Maternal Safety
Bundles
An AIM Maternal Safety Bundle is a collection of best practices for improving maternal care. Experts in the field have vetted these practices to ensure their effectiveness. Each bundle focuses on a specific maternal health and safety topic.
TexasAIM supports the Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle, the Obstetric Care for Women with Opioid Use Disorder Bundle, and the Severe Hypertension in Pregnancy Bundle.
Getting Started
Any Texas birthing hospital system can join the growing and engaged Texas AIM community.
We provide help and can connect you to the Patient Safety Bundles, AIM tools, and the AIM data portal.
Enrollment is voluntary, and there is no deadline to join.
Upcoming Events and Webinars
Please visit our
Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle page for a list of upcoming events and webinars. Find past webinar recordings on this page also.
TexasAIM Bi-Weekly Bulletin:
Receive bi-weekly updates on TexasAIM. Join the contact list for our newsletter
here.
Next Steps
Interested in implementing AIM Maternal Safety Bundles in your hospital? Want more information? Please complete the TexasAIM Enrollment Form at the top of the page or email
TexasAIM@dshs.texas.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
TexasAIM Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Document
Commissioner
Hellerstedt’s Letter Announcing TexasAIM
Dr. Hellerstedt sent a letter to Texas birthing facilities announcing the launch of TexasAIM.
A copy of the letter can be found at the following link:
Dr. Hellerstedt’s Letter to Birthing Hospitals
Texas Hospitals enrolled in Texas AIM
Find a list of the hospitals enrolled in TexasAIM as of June 3, 2019 at the following link: TexasAIM Current Hospitals as of June 3, 2019
Find a map of the hospitals enrolled in TexasAIM as of May 20, 2019 at the following link: TexasAIM Map of Current Hospitals as of May 20, 2019
Maternal Health &
Safety Initiatives
Read about DSHS’ maternal health and safety initiatives including:
- The TexasAIM Initiative;
- The Maternal Health and Safety Awareness, Education, and Communication Campaign; and
- The High-Risk Maternal Care Coordination Services Program.
Download the
Maternal Health & Safety Initiatives Legislative Report (PDF).
Texas
Department of State Health Services
Maternal & Child Health
PO Box 149347, Mail Code 1922
Austin, TX 78714-9347
512-776-7373: Phone
512-458-7658: Fax
TitleV@dshs.texas.gov
maternalhealth@dshs.texas.gov
External links are informational and do not have the endorsement of the
Department of State Health Services. These sites may also not be accessible to
persons with disabilities.
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