Stacey Berger
Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and the pandemic has only added to this. Pregnant people are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19, and experts agree that vaccination is the best way for expectant mothers to protect themselves and their babies. There is growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant people and that the risks of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy far outweigh the risks of vaccination. In fact, vaccination triggers an effective immune response and likely has protective benefits for newborns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Safety of boosters during pregnancy | No safety concerns have been raised by the data collected. |
| Safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy | Data shows that the vaccines are safe for pregnant people and their babies. |
| Risk of COVID-19 for pregnant people | Pregnant people are at higher risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19. |
| Vaccination rates among pregnant people | Vaccination rates are lower among pregnant people than the general population. |
What You'll Learn
Booster shots are safe for pregnant people and their babies
Pregnant people are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19, and experts agree that vaccination is safe and beneficial for both the mother and the fetus. Booster shots are recommended for pregnant and lactating individuals, providing additional protection against severe illness.
Safety and Effectiveness
The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective for pregnant people, with no known risks associated with vaccination during pregnancy. Real-world data from the U.S. and other countries has not raised any safety concerns, even with over 160,000 pregnant women vaccinated in the U.S. alone. This data shows no worse outcomes and even a trend toward better outcomes for vaccinated pregnant women.
Reduced Risk of Severe Illness
Pregnant individuals are at an increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection, ICU admission, and adverse pregnancy outcomes if they contract the virus. Being fully vaccinated, including with a booster shot, dramatically reduces this risk. COVID-19 during pregnancy can double the chance of stillbirth and triple the chance of preterm birth, so vaccination is crucial to protecting both the mother and the baby.
Expert Recommendations
Leading medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strongly recommend vaccination for all eligible pregnant individuals. ACOG has specifically added booster shot recommendations to its practice guidance for pregnant and lactating individuals, up to 6 weeks postpartum. The CDC lists pregnancy as a medical condition that makes someone eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot.
No Impact on Fertility
There is no evidence linking the COVID-19 vaccines to any impact on fertility. Vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, and there is growing data demonstrating the safety of these vaccines in pregnancy.
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Pregnant people are eligible for a booster shot
Dr Dana Meaney-Delman, the lead scientist for maternal Covid-19 immunization at the CDC, has stated that there is no reason to believe that boosters are a safety issue, and that anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, or considering pregnancy should get the vaccine. She also encourages a third dose for her pregnant patients.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other leading medical organizations have urged all eligible pregnant people to be vaccinated against COVID-19, particularly in light of rising case rates, holiday travel, and the emergence of new variants. They point to data showing the safety and efficacy of the vaccines during pregnancy and the lack of impact on fertility. ACOG has also added booster recommendations to its practice guidance, suggesting that a booster dose is recommended for pregnant and lactating individuals, as well as people up to 6 weeks postpartum.
Vaccinating pregnant people is not a new idea. Influenza and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccines are already recommended during pregnancy to ensure babies have some antibodies against flu and whooping cough when they are born.
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Booster shots are safe for people who are breastfeeding
The safety of booster shots for people who are breastfeeding has been supported by various health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM). These organizations recommend that everyone, including those who are breastfeeding, receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Breastfeeding individuals were not included in the initial COVID-19 vaccine trials; however, the mechanism of the vaccines and experience from other vaccines administered during breastfeeding suggest that booster shots are safe for this group. Examples of vaccines that have been given safely to breastfeeding individuals include Tdap, MMR, and chickenpox.
It is important to note that the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain a live virus that can cause illness. The mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer and Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine do not contain a live virus, so it is not possible to get COVID-19 or transmit it to your baby through vaccination. The components of these vaccines are also not known to be harmful to breastfed infants.
When a person is vaccinated while breastfeeding, their immune system develops antibodies that provide protection against COVID-19. These antibodies are then passed to the baby through breast milk, offering newborns potential benefits and protection against COVID-19.
According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), except for smallpox and yellow fever vaccines, neither inactivated nor live-virus vaccines administered to a lactating individual affect the safety of breastfeeding for women or their infants. The ACIP develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the United States and provides guidelines on various aspects of vaccination, such as the age, number of doses, and timing between doses.
While there may be temporary side effects from the booster shot for the breastfeeding individual, such as pain at the injection site or muscle aches, these are typically minor and last only a few days. Additionally, a small percentage of breastfed infants may experience sleepiness, increased fussiness, fever, rash, or self-limiting diarrhea, but no serious adverse effects have been reported.
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Booster shots are safe for people who are trying to conceive
Pregnant people are considered a high-risk group for severe illness from COVID-19. According to Dr. Dana Meaney-Delman, the lead scientist for maternal COVID-19 immunization at the CDC, there is no reason not to recommend a booster shot for pregnant people. She adds that anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, considering pregnancy, or might become pregnant in the future should get the vaccine.
The CDC and leading groups for obstetricians and gynecologists recommend the vaccine for pregnant people. According to Dr. Brian Brimmage, an OB-GYN at UNC Rex Hospital, there is zero evidence that the vaccine or booster causes miscarriage, stillbirth, or any type of infertility. He also notes that infection at any point in pregnancy can be harmful to the mother and potentially the baby, which is why he recommends vaccination and booster shots as soon as possible.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) have also recommended that people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should get a booster shot.
According to Ob/Gyn Oluwatosin Goje, MD, the COVID-19 vaccine boosters are safe for people who are pregnant. Dr. Goje also notes that vaccines wane over time, so by receiving the booster, you are improving immunity for both yourself and the fetus. She adds that there aren't any risks to either pregnant people or their children from the side effects of the booster shot.
Recent studies have found no differences in pregnancy success rates among women who had antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines or from a recent COVID-19 infection and women who had no antibodies. Additionally, a study of more than 2,000 females aged 21-45 years and their partners found that COVID-19 vaccination did not affect the likelihood of becoming pregnant.
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Booster shots are safe for people who have recently given birth
Getting a COVID-19 booster shot is safe for people who have recently given birth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should get the COVID-19 vaccine, as it is safe and beneficial for both the mother and the fetus.
Pregnant people are considered a high-risk group for severe illness from COVID-19, and vaccination dramatically reduces this risk. The vaccines are safe and effective, and there is growing consensus among experts that they are safe for pregnant people. The CDC has also listed pregnancy as a medical condition that would make someone eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot.
According to Ob/Gyn Oluwatosin Goje, MD, the COVID-19 vaccine boosters are absolutely safe for people who are pregnant. Dr. Goje states that "vaccines wane over time, so by receiving the booster, you're improving immunity for both yourself and the fetus. You're doing yourself and your child a favor by getting the booster." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) also recommend that people who are pregnant or breastfeeding receive a booster shot.
Additionally, people who are pregnant are no more likely to experience side effects from the booster shot than others. The side effects are typically similar to those experienced with the original vaccination, such as body aches, fatigue, soreness, fever, and headaches. It is safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for any aches and pains caused by the side effects.
It is important to note that the CDC recommends that pregnant women receive two vaccines during every pregnancy: the inactivated flu vaccine and the Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). The flu vaccine is recommended if you are pregnant during flu season, and the Tdap vaccine is recommended at any time during pregnancy, optimally between 27 and 36 weeks.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the COVID-19 booster vaccine is safe for pregnant women. There is evidence pointing to the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and the risks of contracting COVID-19 while pregnant.
Pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are more likely to become critically ill than non-pregnant women in the same age group.
COVID-19 during pregnancy can lead to a higher risk of ICU admission, premature birth, and severe illness or death.
The COVID-19 booster vaccine can provide protection against severe illness and death for pregnant women. It may also offer some protection to the baby, as antibodies have been found in breast milk and can be passed on to the baby during pregnancy.
The best time for a pregnant woman to get the COVID-19 booster vaccine is as soon as she is eligible, which is typically at least six months after the second dose of an mRNA vaccine or two months after the initial Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
