PHOTOS: UPMC Magee Holds Vaccine Clinic For Pregnant People

90.5 WESA | By Isabelle Schmeler

Published March 31, 2021 at 5:24 PM EDT

Chonnikan Ariyakul fills out paperwork for her second dose after receiving her first shot of the Moderna vaccine at a vaccine clinic at UPMC Magee Women's Hospital on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital held a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for pregnant people on Wednesday, one of the few clinics of its kind in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are more likely to be hospitalized and require intensive care, placing them in the 1A vaccine phase as high-risk individuals in Pennsylvania.

Julie Kidder laughs in relief behind her mask after receiving her first shot of the Moderna vaccine.

Dr. Hyagriv Simhan, executive vice chair of obstetrics in the OB-GYN Department, said the clinic has provided a lot of relief to patients who’ve already been dealing with the disruptions of the pandemic, along with the added stresses of pregnancy.

“The pandemic has been a time of tremendous stress for pregnant women. I’ve seen that with hundreds of patients, and it’s really palpable,” Simhan said, “This is one step towards prevention, one step towards becoming more normal again as a society, and pregnant women deserve to enjoy that as well.”

Kate Greer, 31 weeks pregnant, says she felt relieved after receiving her first shot of the Moderna vaccine.

Patients were met by several doctors and nurses as they entered a large conference room to receive their vaccines.

Katie Miller gets a BandAid on her shoulder after her first shot.

A pregnant person taking a deep breath before her first shot.

Stephanie DeStefano finishes her 15-minute waiting period after receiving her first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Start your morning with today’s news on Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania. Sign up for WESA’s Inbox Edition newsletter.