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For the most-recent information, please visit LVHN.org/vaccines.
As cases of the COVID-19 delta variant continue to surge in the United States, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is still the best option for protecting yourself and those you love from getting sick.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined other national medical organizations in recommending that all pregnant women, women who are hoping to become pregnant and women who are breastfeeding get vaccinated.
Other medical societies agree with the CDC recommendations
The recommendations made by the CDC are the same as those released by other medical societies, including The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
However, while the COVID-19 vaccines are scientifically proven to be safe and effective, women in these situations may have particular concerns about the safety of the vaccine for themselves and their families.
To answer any questions you may have, we’ve gathered the latest information to help you make an informed decision about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine:
Pregnancy is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness
Current data suggest that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at increased risk for more severe illness (including hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, intubation and death) than women who are not pregnant. They are also more at risk for pregnancy complications (including preterm birth). If a pregnant woman with COVID-19 infection also has diabetes or is obese, she may be at even higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19.
New data show no increased risk for miscarriage
According to the CDC, an analysis of current data did not find an increased risk for miscarriage among nearly 2,500 pregnant women who had received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine, before 20 weeks of pregnancy. In addition, data from three safety monitoring systems found no safety concerns for pregnant women who were vaccinated later in their pregnancy (or for fetuses).
“These findings are reassuring for pregnant women or those who are hoping to become pregnant in the near future,” says Amanda Flicker, MD, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). “These women can feel safer choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine knowing that it does not increase the risk of harm for themselves or their babies.”
