Should Pregnant Women Receive a mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine?

The NEJM published a collection of resources on COVID-19 vaccines, including frequently asked questions and commentary written by Paul Sax, M.D., a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Sax offers concise and engaging answers to clinicians’ questions about COVID-19 vaccinations, and the questions and concerns patients will raise.

A recent FAQ published by the NEJM and written by Dr. Sax on January 11, 2021, asked: Should pregnant or breastfeeding women receive the vaccine?

'Although pregnant and breastfeeding women were not enrolled in the COVID-19 vaccine trials and as a result, there are limited data about safety, the U.S. CDC advised on January 7, 2021, that pregnant and lactating women should be offered the vaccine and may choose to be vaccinated.'

'There is no theoretical reason why mRNA vaccines would be harmful to the mother during pregnancy, to a developing fetus, or a breastfeeding infant. Also, reassuring is that gestating rats receiving the Moderna vaccine did not demonstrate any safety concerns related to fetal or embryonal development, concluded Dr. Sax.

This view was recently shared by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.