Pregnancy can be a tremendously difficult time even under the best of circumstances.
For many people, its full of frequent worry and unending questionsCan I eat this?
Is this medicine safe for me to take?TheCOVID-19 pandemichas unsurprisingly compounded these concerns.
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Below are the most important takeaways we have right now about pregnancy, COVID-19, and the COVID-19 vaccines.
COVID-19 can be extremely dangerous for pregnant people.
Pregnancy is a time of physiologic internal conflict.
Weve seen this play out over the last year, and the statistics are dire.
Those who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to develop severe disease than nonpregnant people.
Vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy can help drastically reduce these risks.
She notes that vaccines offer some protection against viral variants, including thedelta variant.
The vast majority of those who are currently hospitalized with or dying from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.
Though pregnant people werent purposely included in the vaccine clinical trials, some individuals became pregnant during the trials.
The CDC, vaccine manufacturers, and independent scientists are conducting additional studies in this realm.
This will include self-reported data as well as reviewing medical records to obtain detailed information on pregnancy outcomes.
There isnoevidence that links COVID-19 vaccination to increased rates of miscarriage, she says.
Furthermore, there is no possibility of vaccination altering the bodys DNA or other genetic material.
It is impossible to get COVID-19 from receiving the vaccine.
Theres no one trimester thats better than the others for COVID-19 vaccination.
Both experts agreed: The best time toget vaccinated against COVID-19 while pregnantis as soon as possible.
Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman agrees that COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective at any point during pregnancy.
No problems have been reported in those vaccinated later in pregnancy.
Vaccination while pregnant can also help protect your newborn after birth.
Even after pregnancy, COVID-19 vaccination can protect infants through antibodies, Dr. Gyamfi-Bannerman says.
Fortunately, were seeing something similar with COVID-19 vaccination.
Bottom line: Anyone who is eligible should get vaccinated.
Patients may be asked for their social security number, but it is NOT required to get vaccinated.
you’re free to find locations to receive the vaccine onVaccines.Gov.
