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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future,” the new guidance reads.
“Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. These data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy,” the CDC added.
2,500 women who received at least one dose before 20 weeks of pregnancy showed no increased risks of miscarriage. Unvaccinated pregnant individuals have a higher risk of severe complications, including stillbirths and miscarriages.
According to CDC data, only 23% of pregnant people in the United States have received at least one dose.
“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,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, said.
Some studies suggest that the virus can be passed from mother to unborn baby.
Epidemiologists believe that the vaccine can provide protection to newborns despite children younger than twelve being unable to receive the vaccine.
Pfizer and Moderna started testing the vaccine on children under the age of twelve in March. Moderna has tested the COVID-19 vaccine on children as young as 6 months.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials say that the vaccine should be available for children under twelve in early to midwinter.
The Delta variant, which is responsible for most new infections, is a cause of concern and experts say that children under twelve are vulnerable.
“Given that children are one of the groups that are unvaccinated, we will see more cases in children,” Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, said. “We will see more hospitalizations in children, and unfortunately, we will see more deaths in children.”
Out of the 105,000 pregnant women in the United States infected with the deadly virus — approximately 18,000 were hospitalized, one-fourth of those received intensive care, and 124 died.
Black and Brown pregnant women have the highest chances of severe illness.
