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CDC Recommends COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Women

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a recommendation that all pregnant women be vaccinated against COVID-19, based on the results of a new analysis.1

“Pregnant and recently pregnant people are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19 compared with non-pregnant people. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19,” they wrote.

These recommendations align with earlier recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine.2

CDC also recommends vaccination in women who are breastfeeding, as well as those who are trying to get pregnant.

“There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men.”

Although clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines did not include women who were breastfeeding, CDC notes that recent data have shown that women who receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help to pass on protection to their babies.

“Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy.”

These recommendations come just as the FDA is expected to authorize the use of a third dose among patients with comprised immune systems. The change would be made via an amendment to the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.3

—Michael Potts

References:

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding. August 11, 2021. Accessed August 11, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html
  2. ACOG and SMFM recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant individuals. News release. American College of Obstetrician and Gynecologists; July 30, 2021. Accessed August 11, 2021. https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2021/07/acog-smfm-recommend-covid-19-vaccination-for-pregnant-individuals
  3. FDA poised to OK 3rd vaccine dose for immunocompromised people. NBC News. August 12, 2021. Accessed August 12, 2021. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fda-poised-ok-third-vaccine-dose-immune-compromised-people-n1276602