Pregnant women 'didn't have the data' – until now: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, even for babies, study shows
COVID-19 vaccines are extremely effective at protecting pregnant women and likely provide protection for their babies as well, according to a new study.
The research, published Thursday in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, examined 131 vaccine recipients, including 84 who were pregnant, 31 who were breastfeeding and 16 who weren't pregnant as a control group.
Earlier studies suggested the COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna would be safe and effective. But this is the largest study to date looking at the immune responses of pregnant and lactating women to vaccination.
Large-scale clinical trials intentionally excluded pregnant women, leaving them to wonder whether to get the shots.
As a maternal-fetal medicine doctor, Jacqueline Parchem had no real doubts she'd get vaccinated. But as a 31-week pregnant woman in mid-December, the first week the shots were offered, she acknowledges she felt a little apprehensive.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/03/27/covid-19-pregnancy-vaccines-safe-protect-moms-babies-study/6979881002/
https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(21)00187-3/fulltext
