England’s chief midwife has reiterated her call for pregnant women to get the Covid-19 dose as soon as possible.

GP records and Public Health England data suggest hundreds of thousands have not had the jab, as the number of mums-to-be in hospital with the virus soars.

Other data suggests the Delta variant increases the chance of severe disease.

In the last three months, 171 pregnant women with Covid needed hospital care – but none had had both jabs.

In a letter to midwives, obstetricians and GP practices, chief midwife for England Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent says all healthcare professionals have “a responsibility to proactively encourage pregnant women” to get vaccinated.

She recommends advice on jabs be offered at every opportunity.

Since mid-April 2021, mothers-to-be have been offered the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus jab, with the second dose recommended eight weeks after the first.