The COVID 19 Vaccine & Pregnancy: What You Should Know

In this period of great fear and uncertainty, the news of two effective vaccines for COVID-19 has given many of us hope that we may finally be able to stop the spread of the coronavirus and go back to a more normal way of life.

But pregnant women and those trying to get pregnant have one more thing to consider when deciding whether or not to receive the covid-19 vaccine: Is the vaccine safe for my health, my baby, or the child I am hoping to conceive during pregnancy?

The good news is, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) experts agree that it is very safe. As a matter of fact, women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to get pregnant are even encouraged to receive the vaccine, according to ASRM’s recent update on the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on conception and pregnancy.

Covid-19 vaccines protect pregnant women and their families

Even though some people are still distrustful of these two vaccines, new polls indicate that an increasing number of Americans are willing to get the vaccines. Renowned epidemiologists, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that about 75 to 85% of the US population would have to receive the vaccine before the country can have a “herd immunity” against COVID-19 outbreaks. “If you have a highly efficacious vaccine, and only 50% of the country gets vaccinated, you’re not going to have that umbrella of protection of herd immunity,” said Fauci in a Facebook live discussion back in November.

The same would also apply in the case of a surrogacy pregnancy. After all, the physical symptoms experienced by expectant surrogates are no different than what any other pregnant woman would go through. Once the surrogate mother is confirmed pregnant, she would start taking progesterone and estrogen hormones to make sure the baby in her womb develops properly.

The latest update from the COVID-19 taskforce advises clinicians to act based on what they think is best and the specific needs of each patient.

Here’s a summary of recommendations from the update:

Do not without the vaccine because of pregnancy

The ASRM task force warns doctors against withholding the COVID-19 vaccine from women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or currently breastfeeding a baby – which is in tune with the guidance put out by other professional healthcare associations.

Pregnant women should get the vaccine if they qualify to do so

Patients who are pregnant or undergoing fertility treatment should be urged to take the vaccine based on eligibility requirements, like front-line employment, age, and underlying medical conditions. Considering that the COVID-19 vaccine is not a “live virus” vaccine, there is no reason to postpone getting pregnant or defer fertility treatments until the patient has taken the second vaccine dose.

The decision whether or not to receive the COVID-19 vaccines should be between patient and doctor.

It’s left to the patient and her doctor to choose whether or not to get vaccinated, keeping in mind the medical ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, and nonmaleficence.

The decisions about getting the vaccine should be made by the patient and her doctor based on possible risk factors and local conditions.

Patients and doctors need to consider several factors when deciding whether or not to take the vaccine. Some of these factors include local risk of transmission, personal factors that can increase the chance of having the disease, risks of the fetus or patient contracting coronavirus, and the possible side effects and efficacy of the vaccines. They also need to consider the fact that there is little-to-no data about the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.

Coronavirus mRNA vaccines don’t have any risks to fertility health, unlike “live virus” vaccines

Generally, mRNA vaccines, including those presently authorized for use by the FDA, do not carry “live virus,” preventing many of the risks of a live vaccine, like infertility, miscarriage, or congenital abnormalities.

People who are likely to develop allergic reactions should take more precautions when taking any of the coronavirus vaccines.

According to the report, some people may develop an allergic reaction to a lipid nanoparticle that was used in the COVID-19 vaccine and several other injectable drugs. As such, extreme caution is advised when given the vaccine to people who have reacted to other vaccines or injectable medications in the past.

Pregnant people were not part of the vaccine trials

Although the consensus of the ASRM task force members and other health specialists is that the protective benefits of the COVID 19 vaccines for pregnant women far outweigh the possible risks of receiving the vaccines, it should be noted that pregnant people were not part of the vaccine trials. Therefore, it’s recommended that doctors and pregnant patients carefully measure up the risks of getting the vaccine against the risks to patients, unborn child, and family members yet to be protected.

As we all get ready to return to a more normal way of life this New Year, it is important not to put our guards down too early. Even with a quick production of the two approved vaccines and the ones on the way, the logistics of vaccinating more than half the US population to acquire herd immunity against the virus means that we need to continue safe practices to keep protecting ourselves for the next few months.

There are many things we still don’t know about the effectiveness of these COVID -19 vaccines and the extent of protection they give. As the ASRM report reminds us:

(i) We are yet to know if a vaccinated person can still transfer the virus if they get infected with SARS-COV-2. (ii) It takes time to develop protective immunity against the virus.

(ii) Although the Pfizer vaccine is believed to be 95% effective against the development of the coronavirus, it doesn’t provide 100% immunity.

So, we urge you to continue to be careful for a little more time. Wear a protective mask, wash your hands often, and stay some distance away from the next person. If you can, stay at your home in order to keep your loved ones safe and healthy.

If you would like to become a parent through assisted reproductive technology (ART) or have any questions about your fertility, contact Coastal Fertility today to schedule a consultation.