Wondering about COVID-19 vaccines if you are pregnant?

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) agree that the COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to pregnant individuals who are eligible for vaccination. A recent New England Journal of Medicine study of 35,000 pregnant women found no major safety concerns for women or their infants when vaccination occurred in the third trimester.

Many people who are considering a pregnancy soon or in the future wonder if the COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility. However, there is no evidence that they do, according to ACOG and SMFM. While human vaccine trials did not specifically study fertility, no signs of infertility were noted in animal studies.

Once the vaccine is available to you, getting vaccinated prior to pregnancy is a great way to ensure that you and your pregnancy are protected. COVID-19 vaccination for people who are pregnant has potential benefits and raises some as yet unanswered questions. It helps to become as informed as you can when making your decision, but realise that information may be changing rapidly.

Meanwhile, you can stay informed by checking trusted health websites and by talking with your healthcare providers.