As a journalist who has spent the past year covering the U.S. government’s response to the pandemic, I had hoped for more guidance from my doctor regarding my pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite my background, I felt overwhelmed by the complexities of the situation. So, I turned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for advice on whether I should get vaccinated while pregnant.
When I asked my doctor, he simply stated, “It’s a personal choice.” While I understood his perspective, this response didn’t provide the clarity I was seeking. Scientific experts generally advocate for vaccination, citing strong evidence of safety and efficacy. However, for pregnant women, the guidance can often be contradictory and confusing.
Initially, clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines excluded pregnant and lactating individuals, a practice rooted in the historical caution surrounding medical testing on this group. This caution stems from past incidents, such as the thalidomide tragedy of the 1970s, which led to stringent regulations regarding clinical trials involving pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) originally advised against vaccination for pregnant women, a stance that conflicted with the CDC’s more personalized approach. Fortunately, the WHO has since updated its guidelines, moving closer to the CDC’s recommendations.
Faced with this uncertainty, I needed to establish a framework for my decision-making process. While I could have resorted to a coin toss, I opted to weigh the risks and benefits, a common medical practice. For example, doctors often evaluate the potential complications of a surgery against the risks of not undergoing the procedure.
Dr. Sarah Bennett, a leading obstetrician at a renowned medical center, emphasized the comprehensive safety evaluations performed on the vaccines. After extensive trials involving tens of thousands of participants, independent experts reviewed the safety data for both the FDA and the CDC. Professional organizations, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, have since recommended that pregnant individuals be given access to the vaccines. “This process is thorough and continuously monitored,” Bennett assured me. “There’s substantial evidence supporting vaccine safety.”
I also looked into the risks associated with the vaccine itself. Although we lack clinical trial data specifically for pregnant individuals, research has shown that the vaccines did not harm pregnant lab animals. Additionally, real-world data from nearly 78,000 vaccinated pregnant individuals in the U.S. indicate no adverse effects on mothers or babies. Dr. Mark Johnson, an obstetrician at a prominent university, stated, “This evidence strongly suggests the vaccine is safe.” The CDC’s initial data analysis revealed that vaccinated pregnant women experienced usual side effects and had similar birth outcomes compared to those who were unvaccinated.
Furthermore, experts noted that there is no clear biological reason for concern regarding the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The technology used in the latter has already been proven safe for pregnant women in other vaccinations. Unlike live-virus vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccines work by prompting the body to generate immune responses without introducing live virus.
Given this information, it seemed that recommendations from the CDC and other health organizations were overly cautious. More studies on vaccinated pregnant women are expected to emerge soon. “We will soon have more data that will allow us to recommend the vaccine as we do with flu and TDAP vaccines during pregnancy,” Dr. Bennett predicted.
I also considered the potential consequences of not getting vaccinated. Studies indicate that pregnant individuals are at a higher risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19, which could lead to hospitalization or complications. With the ongoing prevalence of highly infectious variants, I realized the risks of infection were still significant. “You don’t want to be the last person injured in a war,” Dr. Bennett warned. “Infection rates remain alarmingly high.”
After analyzing the benefits on both sides, I recognized that avoiding the vaccine could mean avoiding unknown, rare complications. However, the advantages of vaccination appeared to be more concrete: protection from severe illness, the potential to pass antibodies to my child, contributing to herd immunity, and the ability to engage in social activities with reduced risk.
I also took my personal context into account. Fully quarantining until the pandemic subsided or until after my child’s birth was impractical for my family and detrimental to my mental health. I longed to celebrate significant family milestones, such as my sister’s graduation and my cousin’s wedding.
Ultimately, I decided to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The clear advantages of vaccination outweighed the vague risks I might face. The established dangers of contracting the virus during pregnancy or inadvertently transmitting it to others were far more compelling than a “wait and see” stance.
I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday and enrolled in the CDC’s v-safe post-vaccination tracker to assist researchers in understanding the vaccine’s impacts on pregnancy and childbirth. I hope that the data collected will lead to improved guidance for future pregnant patients.
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In summary, my decision to get vaccinated while pregnant was influenced by thorough research, expert opinions, and a careful consideration of risks versus benefits. As the landscape of information continues to evolve, I hope for clearer guidance for future expectant mothers.