COVID-19 vaccine does not increase risk of preterm birth

New study has proved that the COVID-19 vaccines do not increase the risk of early delivery or a low-birth-weight baby on Monday.

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The study published on the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report was led by Heather Lipkind, suggests that the vaccine is safe in pregnancy.

According to the report, the study examined pregnancies of over 46,000 women, about 10,000 of whom received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during their pregnancy between December 2020 and July 2021.

Almost every woman in the study received an mRNA vaccine from either Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, while about four percent received a dose from Johnson & Johnson.

The researchers found that among all the pregnancies, 6.6 percent of newborn babies in the study were born prematurely. Among unvaccinated women, the rate was seven percent For those who received at least one vaccine dose during the course of their pregnancy, it was 4.9 percent.

Regarding the babies who were born small for their gestational age, the researchers found no difference between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. The rate for both groups was 8.2 per cent.

Nearly every woman in the study was vaccinated in either the second or third trimester; only about one per cent received a vaccine in the first trimester.

The researchers noted that receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy was not associated with increased risk for preterm birth or Small-for-Gestational-Age.

“The absolute risk for severe morbidity associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy is low; however, women with symptomatic COVID-19 during pregnancy have a more than twofold increased risk for intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and a 70 percent increased risk for death, compared with nonpregnant women with symptomatic infections.”

“Evidence of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy continues to accrue, including the detection of antibodies in cord blood. Together, these findings reinforce the importance of communicating the risks for COVID-19 during pregnancy, the benefits of vaccination, and information on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy,” they said.

According to them, the findings in the report are subject to at least four limitations but the findings from this retrospective, multisite cohort of a large and diverse population with comprehensive data on vaccination and birth outcomes add to the evidence supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.

“CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for women who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future to reduce the risk for severe COVID-19–associated outcomes,” they said.

Commenting on the study, a public health physician, Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor confirmed that there is no link between COVID-19 vaccines and giving birth to premature babies.

He, however, said pregnant women who have not received their COVID-19 vaccines have a higher risk of giving birth to premature babies.

Nsofor, who is also the Senior Vice President for Africa, Human Health Education and Research Foundation said “Pregnant women who have not received their COVID-19 vaccines have a higher risk of giving birth to premature babies. 

“Pregnant women who have COVID-19 and show symptoms have higher chances of dying due to the COVID-19 infection compared to women who are not pregnant. 

“The advice to pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and women who want to get pregnant in the future is to make sure they receive their COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.”

Okwuego/PHW