COVID Boosters & Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
- Pregnant women face a challenging decision amid conflicting advice regarding the COVID vaccine.
- Research consistently demonstrates that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at a higher risk of severe illness and hospitalization compared to their non-pregnant counterparts.
- Neil Silverman, professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, emphasizes that despite fluctuating risks wiht new variants and vaccine availability, the danger...
Pregnant and worried about COVID boosters? the CDC strongly recommends them, but understanding the risks and benefits is crucial. Discover why pregnant women face a higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and potential complications from COVID-19. Research highlights that vaccination during pregnancy provides crucial protection for both mother and baby, including reduced newborn hospitalizations. Conflicting advice can be confusing, but News Directory 3 delivers clarity on the scientific consensus, emphasizing the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines. Learn how vaccination boosts immunity and offers a vital shield. What’s the latest research revealing?
COVID Vaccine During Pregnancy: Weighing Risks and Benefits
Updated June 4, 2025
Pregnant women face a challenging decision amid conflicting advice regarding the COVID vaccine. While experts
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to recommend boosters for pregnant individuals,
citing their high-risk status, recent statements have sown confusion.
Research consistently demonstrates that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at a higher risk of severe
illness and hospitalization compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. A meta-analysis of numerous studies
revealed that infected pregnant women were more likely to require intensive care, ventilation, and faced a
greater risk of mortality, particularly before vaccines became available.
Dr. Neil Silverman, professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine,
emphasizes that despite fluctuating risks wiht new variants and vaccine availability, the danger remains
significant. “No matter what the politics say, the science is the science, and we certainly know that, objectively,
pregnant patients are at substantially increased risk of having complications,” Silverman saeid.
The increased vulnerability stems partly from immune system changes during pregnancy. Virologist Angela
Rasmussen at the University of Saskatchewan explained that natural immune suppression prevents the mother’s body
from attacking the developing fetus, leaving pregnant women more susceptible to infections.
Pregnancy also elevates the risk of blood clots,a risk further amplified by COVID-19.Sallie Permar, chair of
pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine, noted that COVID-19 can disrupt the vascular endothelium, potentially
leading to blood clots and other blood disorders that pose dangers to both mother and fetus.
inflammation and blood clots in the placenta can disrupt the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus,
potentially increasing the risk of stillbirth, especially with certain COVID-19 variants, according to studies
and CDC data. Mary Prahl, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco School
of Medicine, explained that compromised placental function directly impacts fetal growth and progress.
Vaccination offers crucial protection. Studies show COVID vaccines, both mRNA and non-mRNA, are safe for
pregnant women. Prahl co-authored early research indicating no adverse outcomes and sustained antibody
protection for both mother and baby. Subsequent studies reinforced these findings, demonstrating that booster
shots during pregnancy reduced newborn hospitalizations.
Rasmussen underscores that vaccination boosts a pregnant woman’s immune system, increasing neutralizing
antibodies and reducing the likelihood of severe disease. Moreover, vaccinated pregnant women pass on
protection to their newborns, who cannot receive their own shots until six months old. CDC data from 2024
revealed that nearly 90% of babies hospitalized with COVID-19 had mothers who were unvaccinated during
pregnancy.
“No matter what the politics say, the science is the science, and we know that, objectively, pregnant
patients are at substantially increased risk of having complications.”
What’s next
While immunity from vaccination or prior infection may be altering the connection between stillbirth and COVID,
further research is needed. Prahl anticipates more evidence supporting the benefits of COVID boosters during
pregnancy, despite reduced federal tracking efforts.