Study Shows Further Evidence That COVID-19 Vaccines Are Safe During Pregnancy

The COVID-19 pandemic has given pregnant people another thing to worry about—as if nausea, swollen ankles, and fatigue isn't enough to deal with. While most people have welcomed the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, based on expert advice that getting vaccinated is the best form of protection from serious complications from the illness, it hasn't been a straightforward decision for some expectant parents.

However, a new study provides further reassurance to pregnant people who are concerned about the safety of theCOVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

COVID-19 and Pregnancy

Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, welcomes the study findings. “Pregnant women are already immune-suppressed, so getting COVID-19 during pregnancy can be dangerous, and even deadly,” she says.

Pregnant people with COVID-19 are more at risk forpreeclampsia(high blood pressure during pregnancy),preterm labor, and more advanced COVID-19 respiratory and other complicating symptoms.“They are also more at risk for otheradverse pregnancy problems,” says Dr. Ross. “But these can all be prevented by getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.”

Veleka Willis, MD, an OB/GYN in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone Brooklyn and assistant clinical professor at NYU Langone Health, acknowledges that the data is currently limited on the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine versus any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.

However, Dr. Willis points out that the available data suggests that receiving the vaccine can protect the individual from severe illness as a result of COVID-19. “We know that pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill when infected with COVID-19,” she says.

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine During Pregnancy

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant. All respected health care organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American College of Gynecologists (ACOG), and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) have each issued statements in support of pregnant people getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for pre-pregnant, pregnant, orbreastfeeding womenat any time," says Dr. Ross. "Medical studies support its safety and protection to the mother and the baby through her antibodies. It is not associated with any negative side effects, including miscarriage or infertility, as many women falsely believe."

When Dr. Ross speaks to her own patients, she reassures them that getting the COVID-19 vaccine does not increase the risk of an early pregnancy loss, and reminds them that the benefits of getting the vaccine far exceed the risks.

"Many vaccines are allowed during pregnancy when the benefit of vaccine is thought to outweigh the potential risk," adds Dr. Willis. For example, currently pregnant women are offered TDAP (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) and influenza vaccines during pregnancy.

Individuals with a history of miscarriage may be particularly concerned about getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, but Dr. Willis says there's no sound evidence that they would be at an increased risk after COVID-19 vaccination.

The CDC is currently enrolling pregnant individuals in aV-safe COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry. As of Nov. 2, 2021, there have been 171,951 pregnancies reported. "The registry has not indicated any adverse safety concerns observed among pregnant individuals, and general side effects were similar in pregnant and non-pregnant people," says Dr. Willis. "The data reported by CDC also indicates that the proportion of spontaneous miscarriages reported after COVID-19 vaccination is consistent with the known background rate of this outcome."