Fact-check: No, vaccinated women didn't suffer 13 stillbirths over 24 hours at a B.C. hospital
Online rumours claiming that vaccinated pregnant women suffered 13 stillbirths over a period of just 24 hours at a North Vancouver, B.C., hospital are false, health officials have confirmed.
The baseless claim about a sudden spike in stillborn deaths at Lions Gate Hospital has been credited to three unnamed doulas – misspelled as "dulas" by one online publication – and began circulating earlier this month.
An email spreading the falsehood mischaracterizes the COVID-19 vaccine as an "experimental injection," and suggests the media has purposely buried the story.
In fact, news organizations haven't reported on a sudden increase in stillbirths at Lions Gate Hospital because there hasn't been an increase.
Vancouver Coastal Health, which oversees the hospital, categorically denied the rumours on social media Tuesday.
"There is no truth to this claim and the individuals spreading this false information have no affiliation to either Lions Gate Hospital or Vancouver Coastal Health," the health authority wrote.
"There has been no notable change to the incidence of stillbirths in the VCH region throughout the COVID-19 pandemic."
Vancouver Coastal Health also pointed to multiple reports and studies supporting the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women, including one published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reviewed approximately 1.25 million delivery hospitalizations from the beginning of the pandemic to September.
That report, released just last week, supports what B.C. health officials have said repeatedly: that the real risk for pregnant women isn't the vaccine, but catching COVID-19 while unvaccinated.
"Pregnant women are at increased risk for severe COVID-19–related illness, and COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal and neonatal complications," the report reads.
In online documents for expecting mothers, the B.C. Centre for Disease Control notes that other vaccines – such as those for tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis and influenza – are commonly and safely administered to women who are either pregnant or breastfeeding.
It also asserts there are "currently no known serious risks (such as an increased risk of miscarriage or possible birth defects) when getting a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant."
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada supports COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women, as does the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Western University researchers unlock potential 'cure' for ALS
New research out of London, Ont.'s Western University is shedding light on a potential cure for ALS, in which the targeting of the interaction between two proteins can halt or fully reverse the disease's progression.
Police release 3D images of young child found in an Ontario river two years ago
Police have released a three-dimensional image of a young child whose remains were discovered in the Grand River in Dunnville, Ont. almost two years ago.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Kamala Harris drops F-bomb during White House live-stream
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris used a profanity on Monday while offering advice to young Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders about how to break through barriers.
B.C. man fighting for refund after finding someone living at Whistler vacation rental
Edwin Mostered spent thousands of dollars booking a vacation home in Whistler, B.C., for a group skiing trip earlier this year – or so he thought.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.
Collapsed Baltimore bridge span comes down with a boom after crews set off chain of explosives
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Security video caught admitted serial killer disposing of bodies in Winnipeg garbage bins
Security video caught admitted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki on multiple late-night outings, disposing of body parts in nearby garbage bins and dumpsters in the middle of the night.
Mortgage companies could intensify the next recession, U.S. officials warn
U.S. officials worry the next recession could be intensified by a cascading series of failures in the mortgage industry caused by crashing home prices, frozen financial markets and soaring delinquencies.