Initially, pregnant and lactating women were left out of the first trials of Covid vaccines, so it was not recommended to apply them in this group in a generalized way, leaving the decision to each woman, assessing risks and benefits in each case.
But as we have learned about the results of the studies carried out, and seeing that the vaccine is safe and effective in this period, the recommendation to vaccinate pregnant women was extended and in fact the WHO has requested priority in immunization for pregnant women and children .
Covid vaccine in pregnancy
Many women hesitate to get vaccinated while pregnant because of possible adverse effects that could arise and harm their baby, but there is no reason to be afraid. And in fact, the benefits are known to outweigh the risks .
Pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe pneumonia and needing intensive care if they contract a SARS-CoV-2 virus infection during pregnancy, as well as having a premature delivery or having the newborn require neonatal intensive care.
The majority of pregnant women (85 percent) who experience Covid do so asymptomatically and 10 percent suffer from a serious condition. Of these, four percent end up with pneumonia requiring intensive care, and sometimes intubation. Therefore, immunization is recommended to avoid it.
Is the Covid Vaccine Safe in Pregnancy?
The Government of Spain, in its Vaccination Strategy (as of July 6, 2021) is forceful in the response:
“Yes. Based on the available data – which do not indicate any adverse effect on pregnancy – and the recommendations of other countries, it is proposed to vaccinate pregnant or lactating women with mRNA vaccines when appropriate according to the group of prioritization to which they belong and at any time of pregnancy “.
There is enough information to allow vaccination to be undertaken with a high degree of assurance that it does not harm the mother, the fetus, or the nursing baby.
Which vaccine is better for pregnant women?
In Spain, there are currently four authorized vaccines: Comirnaty (Pfizer & BioNTech), Spikevax (Moderna), Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca) and the Janssen vaccine, with different recommendations for use according to age, by the Ministry of Health.
Of these, the messenger RNA vaccines , Pfizer’s and Moderna’s have been tested in pregnant women, and are therefore the recommended vaccines for this group. Instead, vaccines that have a viral vector (AstraZeneca or Janssen) should be rejected, as they are associated with an increased risk of causing thrombi.
The vaccine protects the baby
An added benefit of vaccination in pregnancy, as well as for the breastfeeding mother, is that it has been proven that, as with other vaccines such as influenza, a part of the antibodies generated by vaccination are transferred to the fetus, through the placenta, and to the infant, through breast milk.
It is not yet known exactly how long this protection lasts, but it is known that at least the first months of life, the baby will be protected.
In Babies and more | Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against Covid are effective in pregnant women and protect the baby, concludes the largest study so far
