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The three COVID vaccines authorized in the U.S.—Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J—are deemed safe for use during pregnancy. Extensive data underscores the importance of vaccination for pregnant individuals, those recently pregnant, or planning to conceive. However, only 31% of pregnant individuals have been vaccinated, prompting the CDC to release an urgent health advisory to highlight the risks and benefits.
Initially, vaccine trials excluded pregnant individuals, leading to a cautious recommendation in December 2020 that vaccination decisions should be made in consultation with a doctor. During this time, unfounded rumors about the vaccine impacting fertility spread widely on social media.
Individuals who received the vaccine before or during pregnancy showed no increased risk of miscarriage, fertility issues, or pregnancy complications.
Since then, a wealth of safety data has emerged, and the findings are unequivocal. Individuals who received the vaccine before or during pregnancy faced no heightened risk of miscarriage, fertility challenges, or pregnancy-related complications. (Detailed results from key studies are outlined here.)
COVID-19 poses additional risks for pregnant individuals and their babies, underscoring the critical importance of vaccination. If you’ve assumed, “I’m young and healthy,” pregnancy alters that calculus when it comes to COVID-19. The CDC reports that 125,000 pregnant individuals have tested positive for the virus, with 22,000 requiring hospitalization—a rate of one hospitalization for every six cases. Tragically, 161 deaths have been recorded, with 22 occurring in August 2021 alone.
Additionally, severe cases of COVID-19 can have dire consequences for the unborn child.
Symptomatic pregnant individuals with COVID-19 face double the risk of ICU admission and a 70 percent higher risk of mortality. They are also more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, stillbirth, and having a newborn admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 infection.
If you have concerns about vaccine safety or the risks and benefits of vaccination, consult your prenatal care provider or contact the CDC’s COVID-19 information hotline.
