Pregnant Edmonton woman’s COVID death prompts sister to plead for others to get vaccinated

EDMONTON – The death of a pregnant woman in Edmonton is another example of heartbreak involving someone who hadn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19.

This Thanksgiving will be a tough one for Carol Charles and her family, who usually travel to Alberta to visit her younger sister for the holiday.

Jennifer Rosebluff-Thomas was 29 weeks pregnant with her ninth child when she contracted the Delta variant of COVID-19. She died last month.

“She was so giving. It was hard for her to say no, even for her kids to anybody, it was just really hard for her to say no,” said Charles of her sister. “She took her friends in when they needed a place to stay. When they wanted to make a change in their life, she would help them.”

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Charles says she spoke with her sister in the spring about getting immunized, but adds she had no idea her sister didn’t get vaccinated.

She goes on to say that Rosebluff-Thomas didn’t express any opposition to the vaccines, so she thought she would get the shots.

While Rosebluff-Thomas did not survive, her baby girl was delivered via an emergency C-section.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, recently stressed that pregnant people are at a high risk of severe outcomes due to COVID-19. Similar messaging has been shared by other health officials in Canada, including in B.C.

Related video: Pregnant, unvaccinated people urged to get COVID shots

Earlier this month, Alberta Health Services took to social media to share the urgent message with those who are pregnant, have recently given birth, or those who are trying to get pregnant.

In the series of tweets, the AHS said pregnant women who are COVID-positive are at a higher risk of being admitted to hospital and developing respiratory complications that require intensive care.

We urge those who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or have recently delivered, to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. Vaccines are safe & effective, and they are the best way to protect you and your baby from COVID-19. (3/4)

— Alberta Health Services (@AHS_media) October 1, 2021

One doctor also told CityNews last month that treating a pregnant person is incredibly complex.

“We also have to think that there’s a baby there. So, we have to think ‘What are these medications that the baby will get? How does a position need to help a mom breathe better? How will that potentially affect a baby?’” Dr. Stephanie Cooper said.

Though it is too late to save her sister, Charles says she hopes her story will encourage other pregnant women to get immunized.

“Protect yourself, protect your baby, protect your family so that you can go home. [The vaccine] isn’t guaranteed, either, but it helps. Nothing’s 100 per cent, but it helps. It might not stop you from getting sick, but it might help you get through it,” Charles said.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify the baby was delivered by C-section and survived the birth. We regret the error and confusion.