Pregnant and recently pregnant women are at increased risk for severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with women who are not pregnant or were not recently pregnant (1,2). CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for women who are pregnant, recently pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or might become pregnant in the future.*,† This report describes 15 COVID-19–associated deaths after infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the Virus that causes COVID-19) during pregnancy in Mississippi during March 1, 2020–October 6, 2021.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) identifies COVID-19 cases and deaths through required health care provider and hospital reporting§ and death Certificate reviews. A COVID-19–associated death after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy was defined as the death of a woman with confirmed or probable SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy who subsequently died during pregnancy or within 90 days after the pregnancy ended.¶ This study assessed characteristics of the decedents and timing of infection, for the periods before the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variants became predominant (March 2020–June 2021) and during Delta Variants predominance (July 2021–October 2021).** For each period, the ratio of the number of COVID-19–associated deaths per 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy was assessed.†† Poisson 95% CIs were calculated using CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics Methods for the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System.§§ This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.¶¶

During March 1, 2020–October 6, 2021, a total of 1,637 SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy were reported, and 15 COVID-19–associated deaths occurred (nine deaths per 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections). During the pre-Delta period, six COVID-19–associated deaths occurred (five deaths per 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy; 95% CI = 1.7–10.3); during the period of Delta predominance, nine COVID-19–associated deaths occurred (25 deaths per 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy; 95% CI = 11.3–46.8) (Table).

Suggested citation for this article: Kasehagen L, Byers P, Taylor K, et al. COVID-19–Associated Deaths After SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy — Mississippi, March 1, 2020–October 6, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 19 November 2021.

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