New CDC data: COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women to get

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data Wednesday showing the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for pregnant women.

The data looked at vaccinations early in pregnancy. It did not find an increased risk of miscarriage among nearly 2,500 pregnant women who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Miscarriage typically occurs in about 11-16 percent of pregnancies. The study found miscarriage rates after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine were around 13 percent.

As for women late in pregnancy, previous data from three safety monitoring systems did not find any safety concerns for the women or their babies. The CDC said many pregnancies reported in the monitoring systems are ongoing. The agency will continue to follow the vaccinated soon-to-be mothers during all trimesters of pregnancy.

The data reinforces the CDC’s push for all people 12 years of age and older get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“CDC encourages all pregnant people or people who are thinking about becoming pregnant and those breastfeeding to get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “The vaccines are safe and effective, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we face the highly transmissible Delta variant and see severe outcomes from COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant people.”

The CDC said the Delta variant, as well as low vaccination rates among pregnant women, have fueled a rise in cases. As of July 31, 23.2 percent of pregnant women have received at least one dose of the vaccine. That’s a far cry from the 68.9 percent of Americans 12 years and older who have gotten at least one dose.

Although the overall risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is low, the CDC said pregnant and recently pregnant women are at an increased risk compared with non-pregnant people. Additionally, pregnant people with the virus are at increased risk of preterm birth, and might be at increased risk of other adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The CDC’s advice echoes recent recommendations from top obstetrician groups. The agency had previously encouraged pregnant women to consider vaccination but had stopped short of a full recommendation. The new advice also applies to nursing mothers and women planning to get pregnant.