mRNA Covid-19 Vaccines in Pregnant Women

This editorial discusses the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) in pregnant women, a population initially excluded from clinical trials. Pregnant women face higher risks of severe illness from COVID-19, including ICU admission and preterm birth. Preliminary data from the CDC’s v safe surveillance system and pregnancy registry (35,691 participants) revealed no significant safety concerns, with side effects (e.g., injection site pain, fatigue) similar to nonpregnant populations. Among 827 completed pregnancies in the registry, 86.1% resulted in live births, with rates of preterm birth (9.4%) and congenital anomalies (2.2%) consistent with baseline expectations. However, limited data on first-trimester vaccination and rare outcomes highlight the need for further research. The author emphasizes the urgency of including pregnant women in clinical trials and improving maternal health surveillance systems for future pandemics.

This editorial discusses the safety and efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) in pregnant women, a population initially excluded from clinical trials. Pregnant women face higher risks of severe illness from COVID-19, including ICU admission and preterm birth. Preliminary data from the CDC’s v safe surveillance system and pregnancy registry (35,691 participants) revealed no significant safety concerns, with side effects (e.g., injection site pain, fatigue) similar to nonpregnant populations. Among 827 completed pregnancies in the registry, 86.1% resulted in live births, with rates of preterm birth (9.4%) and congenital anomalies (2.2%) consistent with baseline expectations. However, limited data on first-trimester vaccination and rare outcomes highlight the need for further research. The author emphasizes the urgency of including pregnant women in clinical trials and improving maternal health surveillance systems for future pandemics.