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Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
07:13

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Published on: March 25, 2016

Neonatal and Infant Health Outcomes Following Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination: CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy

Lauren Head Zauche1, Sabrina A Madni2, David K Shay3

  • 1Lauren Head Zauche, Nurse Consultant, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.

Journal of Pediatric Health Care : Official Publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners
|July 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy showed no increased risk for infant health issues. Infant outcomes like low birthweight and death were within or below prepandemic ranges in a large registry study.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Pediatrics
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 Vaccine Pregnancy Registry (C19VPR) tracked pregnant individuals receiving COVID-19 vaccines between December 2020 and June 2021.
  • This study reports on infant health outcomes among participants in the C19VPR.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the incidence of specific infant health outcomes following maternal COVID-19 vaccination.
  • To compare these outcomes against established prepandemic estimates.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected via phone interviews included birthweight (low birthweight [LBW] <2,500g), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), infant death, and 10 prespecified conditions.
  • Follow-up extended from birth to 3 months postpartum, with a subsample followed to 15 months.
  • Incidence rates were compared with historical prepandemic data.

Main Results:

  • Among 19,852 infants with 3-month follow-up, 125 (0.6%) experienced at least one prespecified condition.
  • Incidences of prespecified conditions, LBW, SGA, and death were found to be within or lower than prepandemic ranges.

Conclusions:

  • The incidence of low birthweight, SGA, death, and the 10 investigated infant conditions did not exceed prepandemic estimates in the C19VPR cohort.
  • Findings suggest COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is not associated with increased risk for these adverse infant outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19 vaccineinfant healthinfant mortalitypregnancy

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