Total COVID patient numbers are still extremely high at The University of Kansas Health System but are trending lower today, 200, down from 211 on Friday.
- 100 with active virus today, 107 Friday
- 20 in ICU, 21 Friday
- 11 on ventilators, same as Friday
- 100 hospitalized but out of acute infection phase, 104 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Linsey Taylor, lost baby while pregnant and COVID positive
- Contracted COVID in November, 2020, before vaccines available
- Began experiencing physical pregnancy complications within 24 hours of positive test
- Despite best efforts, baby Marin did not survive
- Raised money to provide swaddles to 500 new babies in Marin’s name
- Would definitely get vaccine while pregnant
- Counseling helped her discover it’s OK not to be OK after an emotional trauma like this.
- Grief has a mind of its own, but her faith has carried her through. “Give yourself the grace to grieve.”
Dr. Marc Parrish, director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Tremendous amount of experience and data show COVID vaccines safe for pregnant women in reducing severity of disease
- Pregnant women at much higher risk of severe COVID effects
- No known effect on fertility or menstrual cycles
Dr. Steve Stites, chief medical officer, The University of Kansas Health System
- Even though COVID cases in Kansas and Missouri are down, hospitalizations still trending higher
- If current trend continues and no new variant becomes dominant, spring season looking better
- 100,000 vaccine doses given at health system with no adverse effects
- Doctors have no ulterior motives in strongly recommending COVID vaccinations. “We’re just trying to take care of you.”
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control
- All professional medical organizations, such as College of Obstetrics, now highly recommend COVID vaccine during pregnancy
- Boosters are recommended right now for everyone, even pregnant women
- No minimum time between getting COVID and getting vaccination. Just wait until no longer contagious so others are not infected
Tuesday, February 1 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. A woman who suffered the unspeakable loss of her husband to COVID is trying to help others with a very public message. Plus, an expert from Turning Point offers help for coping with loss, grief, and fear of COVID.
ATTENTION: media procedure for joining:
Zoom link: https://kumc-ois.zoom.us/j/7828978628
Telephone Zoom link: 1-312-626-6799, meeting ID: 782 897 8628
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.
