A: While the COVID vaccine is new and there is a lot we do not know about it, the risks of developing severe illness from COVID are higher for pregnant woman. In severe cases, pregnant women with COVID are more likely to need ICU care and/or a ventilator than women with COVID who are not pregnant. The COVID-19 vaccine is made without live virus. In previous vaccines that used a similar design (i.e., those that also did not contain live virus), getting vaccinated was not associated with developing severe illness in either the pregnant mother or her unborn baby. Both the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine (SMFM) have released statements supporting use of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women (see links below), and although we do not know all the risks associated with taking the vaccine, when considering whether to take any medication prior to or during pregnancy, we always must consider the benefits relative to the theoretical or known risks. In this case, given how dangerous COVID can be during pregnancy, and the lack of evidence of harm to pregnant women associated with receiving the vaccine, we recommend that eligible women get the vaccine.
