Vials with a sticker that says ‘COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / injection’ and a medical syringe are shown in front of a Moderna logo in this illustration on 31 October 2020. [Dado Ruvi, Reuters]
The World Health Organization (WHO) said clinical trials on the possible effects of vaccination on pregnant women were yet to be conducted.
“While pregnancy puts women at higher risk for severe Covid-19, the use of this vaccine in pregnant women is currently not recommended unless they are at high risk, such as health workers,” the WHO said. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there were limited data available on the safety of vaccines, including mRNA, given during pregnancy, and asked for more clinical trials and studies.
Limited data are currently available from animal development and reproductive toxicity studies. No rats were reported in the rats receiving Moderna Covid-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy. studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine continue. “Studies are planned for pregnant people,” said CDC.
WHO says pregnant women who have Covid have an increased risk of serious diseases, including diseases that lead to ICU uptake, mechanical ventilation and death, compared to non-pregnant women of reproductive age.
Also, pregnant women with Covid may have an increased risk of adverse effects of pregnancy, such as preterm birth, compared to uninfected pregnant women.