Tl;dr: Yes! Getting a COVID vaccine in pregnancy reduces the risk that the baby will need to be hospitalized for COVID illness in the first 6 months of life.
A recent study published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that maternal vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk the baby would need to be hospitalized for COVID-19 in the first 6 months of life. This protection was highest during the first 3 months. This is great news!
This study looked at pregnant people who got the COVID vaccine between March 9, 2022 – May 31, 2023. They wanted to know if vaccination during pregnancy was effective at reducing COVID hospitalization for those babies in their first 6 months of life. The vaccine effectiveness (also called VE) for maternal vaccination during pregnancy to prevent hospitalization was 35% for infants age < 6 months and was 54% for infants aged < 3 months. The vaccine also reduced intensive care unit admissions and the need for breathing tubes and other mechanical ventilation.
Finding ways to protect babies is a big deal! Since the winter of 2022, COVID hospitalization for kids under the age of 6 months has been higher than any group except adults over 65 years old! Hospitalization and severe outcomes occurred most often in otherwise healthy infants. Vaccination during pregnancy is a wonderful way to give our newborns a little extra protection since babies cannot get their own COVID vaccine until they are 6 months old.
The CDC, American Academy of Family Physicians, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all strongly recommend COVID vaccination in pregnancy. Vaccination is pregnancy is safe and effective. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about the COVID vaccine!
Stay safe. Stay well.
Those Nerdy Girls
Links:
ACOG Recommendation for COVID Vaccine in Pregnancy
