“The reason for this recommendation is not that vaccines have been shown to be unsafe for pregnant women, but that there is no data to show that they are safe for pregnant women. So, in the absence of data, they went so far as to say that unless you are in a high-risk group – health professionals, essential professionals, frontline professionals – you should not be vaccinated. “
Both the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agree that people who are pregnant can get the vaccine if they are at high risk of exposure. Although the WHO does not recommend further, the CDC is less clear.
Full KSTP COVID-19 coverage
The CDC’s guidance suggests that those who are pregnant can discuss the matter with their doctor to make a decision.
The KSTP asked Dr. Georgiou what factors pregnant women should consider when choosing whether or not they want the vaccine.
“Whether you are receiving recommendations from the WHO or the CDC, both agree that pregnant women who are in high-risk professions because of the environment they are in, because of the work they do, should consider getting the vaccine,” she said. ” I think you need to take a step back and realize that it is always a personal decision. Only you can make the decision about the tradeoffs and the risks and benefits you are willing to make. ”
She said it is also important to consider that pregnant women are more likely to have a serious infection if exposed to COVID-19.
“We are in a situation now where this is a relatively new vaccine, we do not have good scientific information about its impact on pregnant women,” said Georgiou. “We believe, based on how it works, that it’s safe, but we don’t have the science to prove it, but we do have the science to prove that COVID-19 can be a serious virus […] therefore, I think that we shouldn’t just focus on what we don’t know about the vaccine, we should remember to focus on what we know about the seriousness of this virus. “
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are a new type of vaccine, using mRNA.
“There are no viruses, no live viruses, no inactivated viruses, no dead viruses being injected into you,” said Georgiou. “When you get the vaccine, [mRNA] it stays in your body for a very short period of time, but just long enough to instruct the muscle cells in your arm to start making peak protein, which activates your immune system to start making the antibody. “
The CDC said it does not expect pregnant women to experience side effects other than the general population. The agency also recommends that pregnant women with a history of severe allergic reactions talk to their doctor before getting the vaccine.
The Minnesota Department of Health writes on its website, in part, “Some studies are ongoing now and the data may be available soon. From the data available to us, there was no effect of the vaccine on pregnancy or pregnancy outcomes. Some volunteers in the vaccine study were vaccinated and found they were pregnant. The manufacturer will follow these individuals during pregnancy and delivery. “