Have questions about the Covid-19 vaccination during pregnancy? The Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine has answers!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and other pregnancy experts recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant and lactating people.
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- What are the benefits of getting the Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy?
– The vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 disease, especially severe illness and death. With the two-dose vaccines, you must get both doses for maximum effectiveness.
– Vaccination during pregnancy may help transfer protective antibodies to your baby through the placenta and breast milk. These antibodies may lower the chance of your baby getting the COVID-19 disease.
- What are the known risks of getting Covid-19 during pregnancy?
Pregnant people who get COVID-19 are more likely to become very sick than those who are not pregnant. They are:
– 3 times more likely to need ICU care
– 2 to 3 times more likely to need advanced life support and a breathing tube
– More likely to die from COVID-19
- What are the known risks of getting the Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy?
– More than 139,000 people have received a COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. No safety concerns
have been reported for vaccinated pregnant people or their babies.
– Of 800 pregnant people vaccinated in the first trimester, there have been no increased risks of pregnancy loss, growth problems, or birth defects compared with pregnant people who were not vaccinated. No problems have been reported in those vaccinated later in pregnancy.
– You can’t get COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccines.
- What are your personal risks of getting infected with Covid-19 during pregnancy?
Your risk of getting COVID-19 depends on the chance that you will come into contact with another infected person. Your risk may be higher if you:
– Live in an area where COVID-19 infection rates are high, vaccination rates are low, or both
– Work in healthcare
– Work in a place where you have frequent or sustained close contact with people
When You Get the Vaccine:
– The CDC offers the “v-safe after vaccination health checker” that checks in with you after your vaccination. The v-safe program monitors the safety of the vaccines by collecting information from a large number of vaccinated people, including those who are pregnant.
– Someone will call you from v-safe to ask questions and get more information.
– You may be asked to enroll in the vaccine pregnancy registry, which collects information about vaccination during pregnancy.
Talk with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have. We are here for you!