A creator of the Oxford Covid vaccine is urging pregnant women to get the jab, after studies showed this group accounted for almost a fifth of the most critically ill patients in England.

Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, who was one of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab inventors, said it is especially important that expectant mothers are immunised because coronavirus can be especially dangerous if contracted during pregnancy.

Speaking after feeding a penguin named after her at the Sea Life London Aquarium, Professor Gilbert said: “It’s really important that pregnant women do get vaccinated.

“We have so much evidence now that it’s safe for them, it protects them, and Covid-19 is really dangerous in pregnancy.

“You don’t want to put yourself and your baby through Covid infection, so do have the vaccine.

“So much research has gone in to these vaccines, years of research.

“Before we even knew about coronavirus we were working on ways to make the vaccines.

“Billions of doses have now been delivered around the world, so there is so much evidence of their safety and their efficacy and it’s really important that people continue to get vaccinated.

“For those who have been called to have the booster: when it’s your turn, have the booster.”

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This comes after NHS England found that between July 1 and September 30, 17 per cent of Covid patients receiving treatment through a special lung-bypass machine were mothers-to-be who had not had their first vaccine dose.

The NHS has also said data showed that pregnant women accounted for 32 per cent of all females aged between 16 and 49 in intensive care on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) – used when a patient’s lungs are so damaged by Covid that a ventilator cannot maintain oxygen levels.

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Data shows that in addition to pregnant women being vulnerable to the virus, infections rose rapidly in five to 17 year olds in September. This rise in cases coincided with the start of the autumn school term in England.

Researchers say it is important the vaccination programme maintains high coverage and reaches children and unvaccinated, or partially vaccinated adults, to reduce transmission and associated disruptions to work and education.

The booster rollout has begun and it is being offered at least six months after the last dose of the jab.

Booster doses of the Covid vaccine is currently being offered to people aged 50 years and over, health and social care workers and younger people at risk.

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