Maternal and perinatal outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy

To investigate maternal adverse effects and perinatal and neonatal outcomes of women receiving coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during pregnancy.

Seven hundred and sixty pregnant women who were followed up in obstetrics outpatients were included in this prospective cohort study. COVID-19 vaccination and infection histories of the patients were recorded. Demographic data, including age, parity, and presence of systemic disease and adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination were recorded. Vaccinated pregnant women were compared with unvaccinated women in terms of adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes.

Among the 760 pregnant women who met study criteria, the data of 425 pregnant women were analyzed. Among these, 55 (13%) were unvaccinated, 134 (31%) were vaccinated before pregnancy, and 236 (56%) pregnant women were vaccinated during pregnancy. Of those who were vaccinated, 307 patients (83%) received BioNTech, 52 patients (14%) received CoronaVac, and 11 patients (3%) received both CoronaVac and BioNTech. The local and systemic adverse effect profiles of patients who received COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy were similar (p=0.159), and the most common adverse effect was injection site pain. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy did not increase the ratio of abortion (<14 wk), stillbirth (>24 wk), preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal growth restriction, second-trimester soft marker incidence, time of delivery, birth weight, preterm birth (<37 wk) or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit compared to the women who were not vaccinated during pregnacy.

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy did not increase maternal local and systemic adverse effects or poor perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, regarding the increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to COVID-19 in pregnant women, the authors propose that COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to all pregnant women.