COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio health officials addressed a continued rise in statewide hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 on Thursday.
That rise includes those who are pregnant, which health officials with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center said is leading to a nationwide increase in preterm births.
During Thursday's briefing, a panel of medical specialists worked to dispel rumors surrounding infertility and the COVID-19 vaccine.
"The biggest thing we're seeing right now is sicker women," said Dr. Michael Cackovic.
According to Cackovic, every patient who is currently critically ill with COVID-19 at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is unvaccinated. Cackovic said the vaccination rate among pregnant women in the country currently sits at an average of 22 percent.
"This is certainly a problem because the best thing any mom can do for their baby is to actually get vaccinated," said Cackovic.
Cackovic detailed treating mothers in the hospital who had tested positive for COVID-19 and were struggling to breathe. Cackovic said the best way to protect your child is to protect yourself.
Nationally according to Cackovic, 48% of pregnant women hospitalized with COVID -19 deliver early and their newborn could be in special care for weeks.
As of Wednesday, the Ohio Hospital Association says roughly one in seven patients in hospitals statewide has COVID-19. In terms of patients in the ICU, one in four is currently being treated for the virus.
In rural hospitals, one in three patients has COVID-19 and half of all patients in the ICU are battling the virus.
Statewide, there are more than 3,000 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday. More than 800 patients are battling the virus in the ICU.
"Both of these figures are trending in the wrong direction," said Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, who said the surge is largely driven by unvaccinated Ohioans and the delta variant.
Last week, the World Health Organization identified a new variant, referred to as the mu variant. Officials with Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center said, as of now, it's too early to tell whether the mutation will be significant. That said, Dr. Nora Colburn stressed the importance of getting vaccinated.
You can watch both briefings in the player below: