Q: I am pregnant. Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccinations, especially with vaccines that do not contain live virus, are considered a safe and routine part of prenatal care. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) state that the COVID vaccine should not be withheld from pregnant individuals who meet criteria for vaccination based on priority groups. It’s also recommended that you speak with your OB provider about whether or not you should get vaccinated.
According to the CDC, pregnant people are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Additionally, pregnant people who contract COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, compared with pregnant women without COVID-19.
There is very little data on the safety of this vaccine in pregnancy, as pregnant people were not included in the trials of the vaccines. However, 18 individuals who received the vaccine in the vaccine trials did become pregnant after vaccination. So far, those pregnancies are ongoing and we hope to learn more about those individuals soon. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration have safety monitoring systems in place to capture information about vaccination during pregnancy and will closely monitor reports. Learn more at CDC.
Q: I heard that some people had reactions after vaccination. Are these dangerous in pregnancy?
The most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, joint pains, fatigue and headache (particularly after the second dose) and resolve within a day or two and are not typically dangerous. Talk to your OB provider before getting the vaccine. Learn more at CDC.
Q: If I have received another vaccine during pregnancy do I have to wait to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
The flu shot and the Tdap vaccines are routinely recommended during pregnancy. If you choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy or the postpartum period, the CDC recommends that you schedule it at least 14 days before or 14 days after any other vaccination. Talk with your OB provider about the best timing for the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more at CDC.