The COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnant Women
What March of Dimes is doing …
March of Dimes is continuing to advocate for moms and babies by joining 250+ partners in sending a letter to the president requesting the nation's participation in global collaboration to develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine.
What we know about the covid-19 vaccine and Pregnancy …
• At least three COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several more are under development.
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that one of the vaccines currently approved for emergency use can be used in people ages 12 and older for the prevention of COVID-19, and the other two vaccines can be used in people ages 18 and older.
• Two of the current vaccines use mRNA technology. They do not contain a live virus.
• The third vaccine uses viral vector technology. It contains a harmless version of a type of virus called an adenovirus. The adenovirus used in the vaccine cannot cause an infection. There have been some reports of a rare type of blood clot in a very small number of people receiving the vaccine in the U.S., particularly in women under age 50. This risk has not been seen in the mRNA vaccines. The CDC and FDA have determined that this risk is very low and the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing COVID-19.
• All of the current vaccines give the body’s cells instructions that help the immune system fight COVID-19.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding people were not included in the original COVID-19 vaccine trials, although some participants became pregnant while in the trial. Trials are now testing the vaccine in pregnant people.
•. Recent research shows that the mRNA vaccines are very effective in reducing the risk of COVID-19 for fully vaccinated people. In rare cases when people who are fully vaccinated with an mRNA vaccine get COVID-19, they may have a milder, shorter illness or even no symptoms.
• So far, research has shown that the mRNA vaccines are safe and effective in pregnant people. As of now, there’s no evidence that the antibodies your body makes after getting the COVID-19 vaccine can cause any problem with pregnancy.
• The FDA and CDC have systems in place to monitor safety in pregnant people who get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can enroll in safety monitoring systems such as the CDC’s V-safe program, which is a smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker.
• According to the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), pregnant and breastfeeding people may choose to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Recent research has shown that pregnant people who get the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in the third trimester of pregnancy can pass protective COVID-19 antibodies to their babies. Researchers continue to study the best vaccination timing for passing antibodies to babies. Studies also have shown that the breast milk of people who get the vaccine may contain COVID-19 antibodies.
• As of now, there’s no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine can affect fertility. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all people who are eligible to get the vaccine and are considering a future pregnancy.
• There’s no need to delay pregnancy after getting the vaccine.
• Experts believe that the benefits of pregnant people getting the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any potential concerns.
Find a vaccine near you at: https://www.vaccines.gov/search/