Recent research suggests that mRNA Covid-19 vaccines do not cause increased risk to mom or baby during pregnancy.
The novel coronavirus that became known as COVID-19 took lives, caused dire economic damage, and created dread and distress such as no one alive had experienced. Pregnant women feared for their lives and those of their children. Even when a vaccine was available, science did not fully understand its impact on pregnancy. A new study from Yale can put some fears to rest.
The study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology aimed to determine if there was a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines that use messenger RNA (mRNA) and an increased risk to unborn children. During the pandemic, healthcare providers of all specialties worked above and beyond the call of duty to help patients understand their choices in a time of great epidemiological question. By itself, infection with SARS-CoV-2 increases risk of maternal and fetal morbidity and it was hoped the vaccine during pregnancy did not do the same.
Because pregnant people were excluded from COVID vaccine trials, data regarding vaccine adverse outcomes during pregnancy was simply not available. The current Yale study evaluated records in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) for singleton pregnancies between June 2021 and January of 2022. The VSD is a networked project that collects and monitors vaccine adverse reports and pursues research to better understand potentially harmful vaccine impacts in real-time.
Researchers evaluated 822 live births with 276 stillbirths during the study period. In comparing for adverse vaccine outcomes for moms who received one or two mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, the study identified no association between the vaccine and poor fetal outcomes. As well, study authors note “the strengths of this analysis include a large cohort with individuals of racial, ethnic, and geographic diversity and a well-established infrastructure for identifying vaccine administration and health outcomes.”
Study lead, Dr. Anna Denoble said, “Stillbirth is a heartbreaking experience for parents. Expecting parents don’t want to do anything that might harm their pregnancy. We wanted to provide reassurance surrounding COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy by carefully exploring whether there was any association with stillbirth. We found no association.” These study findings respond to the hesitancy still expressed by parents around receiving COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Parents must rely on the safe and factually supported guidance of their obstetrician. Studies like this offer a guidepost to assist pregnant moms and their providers make well-informed decisions.
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