Vaccination against COVID-19 is not a reason to postpone a pregnancy. According to the latest guidelines from the Centers for Control Disease and Prevention (CDC) of the US, women who plan to get pregnant in the next trimester do not need to postpone or avoid this procedure, after receiving an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19.
mRNA vaccines and COVID-19
For the reason, that mRNA vaccines do not contain the live virus and therefore cannot give someone COVID-19. Additionally, mRNA vaccines do not interact with a person’s DNA because the mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell. Cells break down the mRNA quickly.
Vaccination consideration is very important for people who are trying to get pregnant throughout this pandemic period because a pregnant woman vaccinated will not be at risk for getting infected during her pregnancy.
Epidemiological data
The importance of a safe pregnancy without coronavirus can be deduced from the latest epidemiological data from CDC. According to its’ latest announcement (February 2021), observational data demonstrate that, while the chances for severe health effects are low in the general population, pregnant women with COVID-19 have an increased risk of severe illness, including illness that results in ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death compared with non-pregnant women of reproductive age.
Additionally, pregnant women with COVID-19 might be at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, compared with pregnant women without COVID-19. So it is obvious to understand the importance of immunization for women who are considering beginning a pregnancy.
Vaccination will also enable people to obtain the upcoming “European vaccination certificate” in order to have access to all countries of the European Union easily and safely.
Limited data is available yet because clinical trials monitoring vaccinated pregnant women are still ongoing. Their latest current data though, from the CDC’s V-safe registry for pregnant women (March 11th, 2021) notes: “There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problem with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta. However, data are limited about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for people who are pregnant.”
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that vaccines of SARS-CoV-2 should not be withheld from pregnant individuals.
So, it would be a rational decision for every woman, in process of getting pregnant, to discuss the issue of coronavirus vaccination with her gynecologist and take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated, in case a vaccine is available.
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