COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19

This is an official
CDC HEALTH ADVISORY
Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network
September 29, 2021, 12:00 PM ET

COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19

Summary
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends urgent action to increase Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination among people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future. CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks. As of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths.1 The highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in pregnant people (n=22) in a single month of the pandemic was reported in August 2021. Data from the COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) in 2021 indicate that approximately 97% of pregnant people hospitalized (either for illness or for labor and delivery) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were unvaccinated.2 In addition to the risks of severe illness and death for pregnant and recently pregnant people, there is an increased risk for adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, including preterm birth and admission of their neonate(s) to an intensive care unit (ICU). Other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth, have been reported. Despite the known risks of COVID-19, as of September 18, 2021, 31.0% of pregnant people were fully vaccinated before or during their pregnancy.3 In addition, there are racial and ethnic disparities in vaccination coverage for pregnant people. Healthcare providers should communicate the risks of COVID-19, the benefits of vaccination, and information on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Healthcare providers should strongly recommend that people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to become pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future receive one of the authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible.

Background
COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for pregnant people. CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccination for all people aged 12 years and older, including people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future.4 CDC recommendations align with those from professional medical organizations serving people who are pregnant, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Accumulating data provide evidence of both the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy, because the benefits of vaccination for both pregnant persons and their fetus/infant outweigh known or potential risks. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can prevent severe illness, death, and pregnancy complications related to COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccination coverage for pregnant people remains low. Despite recommendations for vaccination, uptake of COVID-19 vaccination by pregnant people has been lower than that of non-pregnant people.5 In addition, vaccination coverage for pregnant people differs by race and ethnicity, with vaccination coverage being lowest for non-Hispanic Black pregnant people (15.6%) as of September 18, 2021.3 Although the proportion of fully vaccinated pregnant people has increased to 31.0% (as of
September 18, 2021), the majority of pregnant people remain unprotected against COVID-19, and
significant disparities exist in vaccination coverage by race and ethnicity.
Pregnant and recently pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness,
death, and pregnancy complications. Pregnant and recently pregnant people with COVID-19 are at
increased risk for severe illness when compared with non-pregnant people. Severe illness includes illness
that requires hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal
membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or illness that results in death. Although the absolute risk is low,
compared with non-pregnant symptomatic people, symptomatic pregnant people have more than a twofold
increased risk of requiring ICU admission, invasive ventilation, and ECMO, and a 70% increased risk
of death.6 Pregnant people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk for preterm birth and some data
suggest an increased risk for other adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes, such as
preeclampsia, coagulopathy, and stillbirth, compared with pregnant people without COVID-19.7-10
Neonates born to people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk for admission to the neonatal ICU.9-11
In addition, although rare, pregnant people with COVID-19 can transmit infection to their neonates;
among neonates born to women with COVID-19 during pregnancy, 1–4% of neonates tested were
positive by rRT-PCR.12,13

Recommendations
CDC recommends urgent action to help protect pregnant people and their fetuses/infants. CDC
recommends urgent action to accelerate primary vaccination for people who are pregnant, recently
pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become
pregnant in the future. Efforts should specifically address populations with lower vaccination coverage
and use approaches to reduce racial and ethnic disparities. CDC recommends ensuring tailored,
culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate communication of vaccination benefits. In addition,
pregnant people should continue to follow all recommended prevention measures and should seek care
immediately for any symptoms of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should have a low threshold for
increased monitoring during pregnancy due to the risk of severe illness.

Recommendations for Public Health Jurisdictions
Continue and increase efforts to reach and partner with communities to encourage and offer
vaccination to people who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating),
who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future.

Leverage resources to promote vaccine equity: COVID-19 Vaccine Equity for Racial and Ethnic
Minority Groups.

Include focused efforts to increase vaccination coverage in pregnancy among people
from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Encourage healthcare providers to offer and recommend COVID-19 vaccination to their patients
and community members who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are
lactating), who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future.

Work with community partners and employers to make vaccination easily accessible for
unvaccinated populations, including those who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those
who are lactating), who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the
future.

Continue to implement additional prevention strategies where SARS-CoV-2 transmission is high
and vaccination coverage is low, including in groups at increased risk, such as pregnant people.

Continue to monitor community transmission and vaccination coverage levels and focus vaccine
efforts on populations with low coverage.

Disseminate and communicate information to key partners about vaccination coverage, risks
posed by the highly transmissible Delta variant, and local transmission levels. Partner and share
messaging with programs serving pregnant and recently pregnant people.

Communicate accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines, respond to gaps in information,
and confront misinformation with evidence-based messaging from credible sources. For example,
there is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility
problems in women or men.

Recommendations for Healthcare Providers
Ensure all clinical staff are aware of the recommendation for vaccination of people before and
during pregnancy and the serious risks of COVID-19 to pregnant and recently pregnant people
and their fetuses/infants.

Increase outreach efforts to encourage, recommend, and offer vaccination to people who are
pregnant, recently pregnant (including those who are lactating), who are trying to get pregnant
now, or who might become pregnant in the future. A strong recommendation from a healthcare
provider is a critical factor in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and can make a meaningful
difference to protect the health of pregnant and recently pregnant people and their fetuses/infants
from COVID-19.

For healthcare providers who see patients who are pregnant, recently pregnant (including those
who are lactating), who are trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the
future:

Review patients’ COVID-19 vaccination status at each pre- and post-natal visit and
discuss COVID-19 vaccination with those who are unvaccinated.

Reach out to your patients with messages encouraging and recommending the critical
need for vaccination.

Remind patients that vaccination is recommended even for those with prior COVID-19
infections. Studies have shown that vaccination provides increased protection in people
who have recovered from COVID-19.

Support efforts to ensure people receiving the first dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine
(i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) return for their second dose to complete the series as
close as possible to the recommended interval.

Consider a booster dose in eligible pregnant persons.4

Communicate accurate information about COVID-19 vaccines and confront
misinformation with evidence-based messaging from credible sources. For example,
there is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause
fertility problems in women or men.

Become a COVID-19 vaccine provider and vaccinate patients during their visit. More information
can be found at How to Enroll as a COVID-19 Vaccination Provider.

For More Information
Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines Currently Approved or Authorized
in the United States

COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

COVID-19 Vaccines for People Who Would Like to Have a Baby

COVID-19 among Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People

COVID Data Tracker

Vaccination Among Pregnant People

Data on COVID-19 during Pregnancy: Severity of Maternal Illness

Toolkit for Pregnant People and New Parents

Building Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines

References
1. COVID Data Tracker. Data on COVID-19 during Pregnancy: Severity of Maternal Illness.
(accessed September 27, 2021)
2. COVID-19-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) (unpublished data)
3. COVID Data Tracker. Vaccinations Among Pregnant People. (accessed September 27, 2021)
4. CDC Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines. (accessed September 27,
2021)
5. Razzaghi H, et al. COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women During Pregnancy
— Eight Integrated Health Care Organizations, United States, December 14, 2020–May 8, 2021.
MMWR. 2021:70(24);895–899.
6. Zambrano L, et al. Update: Characteristics of Symptomatic Women of Reproductive Age with
Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Pregnancy Status — United States, January 22–
October 3, 2020. MMWR. 2020:69(44);1641–1647.
7. Ko JY, DeSisto CL, Regina M Simeone RM, et al. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Maternal
Complications, and Severe Illness Among US Delivery Hospitalizations With and Without a
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Diagnosis. Clinical Infectious Diseases.
2021;73(Supplement_1):S24–S31.
8. Jering KS, Clagget BL, Cunningham JW, et al. Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of
Hospitalized Women Giving Birth With and Without COVID-19. JAMA Intern Med.
2021;181(5):714-717. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.9241
9. Allotey J, et al. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of
coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ
2020;370:m3320. (Published 01 September 2020)
10. Villar J, et al. Maternal and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Among Pregnant Women With and
Without COVID-19 Infection: The INTERCOVID Multinational Cohort Study. JAMA Pediatr.
2021;175(8):817-826. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.1050.
11. Woodworth KR, et al. Birth and Infant Outcomes Following Laboratory-Confirmed SARS-CoV-2
Infection in Pregnancy — SET-NET, 16 Jurisdictions, March 29–October 14, 2020. MMWR.
2020:69(44);1635–1640.
12. Olsen EO, et al. SARS-CoV-2 infections among neonates born to women with SARS-CoV-2
infection: maternal, pregnancy and birth characteristics. (pre-print accessed September 27, 2021)
13. Mullins E, Hudak ML, Banerjee J, et al. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19:
coreporting of common outcomes from PAN-COVID and AAP-SONPM registries. Ultrasound
Obstet Gynecol. 2021;57(4):573-581. doi:10.1002/uog.23619
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