COVID-19 Update: COVID Vaccine for patients planning a pregnancy or currently pregnant – January 28, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients who are Pregnant or Planning Pregnancy
Mount Sinai Fertility supports patients who are pregnant or planning pregnancy to make an informed decision regarding COVID-19 vaccine by weighing the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine with the risks of COVID-19 infection. Although pregnant patients who become infected with COVID-19 generally have mild to moderate symptoms, approximately 11% will require hospitalization and 2-4% may require ICU admission. Currently there is a lack of clinical trials to guide recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine for patients who are pregnant or pregnancy planning. Patients should continue to practice all public health recommendations to minimize the risk of COVID-19 including masking, social distancing and avoiding non-essential interactions.
The Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada and the Ontario Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Ontario Ministry of Health support access to the COVID-19 vaccine for patients who are pregnant based on an assessment of their individual risk of COVID-19.
Patients can speak to their health care provider to discuss the risks and benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, the risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy, their individual risks of COVID-19 and the current available information about the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy.
Patients who are receiving the vaccine should consider delaying pregnancy until the vaccination series is completed to ensure maximum efficacy of the vaccine prior to pregnancy. There is no evidence whether patients need to delay pregnancy after receiving the vaccine.
Resources:
Heath Canada; https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html