A recent study published in The BMJ has provided reassuring findings regarding the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during the first trimester of pregnancy. Researchers utilized national public health registries from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden to compare outcomes among pregnant women who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines early in pregnancy, those who contracted COVID-19 during the first trimester, and those who were neither vaccinated nor infected.
The study tracked over 343,000 babies born between March 2020 and February 2022, with each infant monitored for a minimum of nine months. Among them, approximately 19% were born to mothers who received a COVID-19 vaccine during their first trimester, while 3% were born to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 during the same period.
Of the total births, about 17,700 infants were diagnosed with major congenital anomalies within the follow-up period. Importantly, the study found no significant increase in the risk of any major birth defect among infants born to vaccinated mothers or those whose mothers were infected with COVID-19 during early pregnancy. This included defects affecting the heart, brain, eyes, face, respiratory system, limbs, kidneys, genitals, and gastrointestinal tract.
The research accounted for various factors influencing birth outcomes, such as maternal age, smoking status during pregnancy, body mass index, socioeconomic background, and other chronic conditions. Furthermore, the study did not observe an elevated risk of major birth defects associated with fetal deaths linked to first-trimester COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
Although the study had limitations, such as exclusion criteria for certain COVID-19 cases and incomplete vaccination dosage data, the authors emphasized that their findings support current recommendations advocating for COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women. They underscored the protective benefits of vaccination for both maternal and infant health, highlighting the absence of evidence suggesting increased birth defect risks associated with first-trimester vaccination.
The study contributes to a growing body of evidence affirming the safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, including Pfizer and Moderna, before and during pregnancy. Previous research has suggested potential benefits such as reduced risks of premature birth and severe COVID-19 outcomes for both mothers and newborns.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently advises COVID-19 vaccination for individuals who are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding, citing the increased risks of severe illness and pregnancy complications associated with COVID-19 infection.
In conclusion, the study reinforces the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccination in early pregnancy and supports ongoing efforts to protect maternal and fetal health amid the pandemic.
