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I find it disheartening to constantly address the grim realities of COVID-19, but if individuals would simply adhere to safety measures like wearing masks and getting vaccinated—yes, this includes pregnant individuals—perhaps we wouldn’t be in this situation. Seriously, does anyone really think Delta is just an airline?
Last Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged all pregnant individuals to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to the alarmingly low vaccination rates among pregnant individuals—only 23% have received at least one dose—hospitals in areas with high transmission rates are experiencing a spike in severe COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated expectant individuals.
The CDC reports that around 105,000 pregnant women in the U.S. have contracted COVID-19, with nearly 18,000 (17%—almost 1 in 5) requiring hospitalization. Approximately 25% of those hospitalized have needed intensive care, and tragically, 124 have lost their lives.
“CDC encourages all pregnant individuals or those considering pregnancy, as well as those breastfeeding, to get vaccinated to safeguard themselves against COVID-19,” stated Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, in an August 11 announcement. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and there has never been a more pressing need to boost vaccination rates as we confront the highly transmissible Delta variant and witness severe outcomes among unvaccinated pregnant individuals.”
Vaccination is Safer than Contracting COVID During Pregnancy
It’s infuriating that I need to emphasize this point. Why must the CDC push pregnant individuals to get vaccinated? The overwhelming evidence indicates that the COVID-19 vaccine is safer for pregnant individuals than actually contracting COVID—especially given that the Delta variant is significantly more contagious and can lead to severe symptoms.
Why Pregnant Individuals Should Get Vaccinated Against COVID
Pregnant individuals face a heightened risk of requiring intensive care, being placed on ventilation or life support, and even death if infected with COVID-19. While the overall risk of dying is low, there’s also an increased likelihood of preterm birth, which introduces a range of potential health complications for the newborn, including chronic health issues.
Even if you believe you can recover from COVID-19 without serious consequences, many newborns have contracted COVID-19 after birth, often transmitted by their unvaccinated mothers. Infants and babies under one year have underdeveloped immune systems and smaller airways, making them particularly vulnerable.
Pregnancy naturally suppresses the immune system to prevent the body from attacking the developing fetus, but it also reduces lung capacity. These physiological changes, combined with existing healthcare disparities, particularly for women of color, make pregnant individuals more susceptible to the coronavirus.
According to a June CDC report, only around 16% of pregnant women were fully vaccinated, with Black and Hispanic women or those aged 18 to 24 having rates as low as 6% to 12%. This is significantly below the general U.S. vaccination rate of 50%.
COVID Vaccine Safety for Pregnant Individuals
Early fears about the vaccine’s impact on fertility or fetal health have been debunked, yet misinformation persists. Leading health organizations now recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant individuals. Just recently, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) urged healthcare providers to “enthusiastically recommend vaccination” to pregnant individuals.
There is now substantial data indicating that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant individuals. The ACOG and SMFM emphasized that their recommendations are based on evidence showing the vaccines’ safety during pregnancy from tens of thousands of reported cases.
No Increased Risk of Miscarriage or Harm
Current data from the CDC shows no increased risk of miscarriage among approximately 2,500 pregnant women who received the mRNA COVID vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) before reaching 20 weeks of pregnancy. The miscarriage rate was 13%, comparable to the general population rate of 11% to 16%. Furthermore, initial results from a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine involving 35,000 pregnant women from December 2020 to February 2021 found no evidence that the vaccine poses any risk to either the mother or the baby.
I understand that during pregnancy, individuals tend to be more cautious about what they consume. The last thing any expecting parent wants is to jeopardize their child’s health. However, it’s far worse to succumb to a preventable disease and miss out on watching your child grow.
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or have recently given birth, please consider getting your COVID-19 vaccine. Don’t wait until it’s too late. For more information about COVID-19 and its implications for pregnancy and home insemination, check out this excellent resource on fertility treatment.