Although most pregnant women with COVID-19 have only mild symptoms, about 1 in 10 will develop severe illness from their infection. Compared with women who aren’t pregnant, pregnant women infected with the COVID-19 virus:  

• Are 3 times more likely to need ICU care  

• Are 2 to 3 times more likely to need advanced life support and a ventilator

• Have a small increased risk of dying from complications caused by COVID-19   

COVID-19 infection may also increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including preterm birth and stillbirth, especially in women who have never been vaccinated.   

Data show that older pregnant women and those with preexisting health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disorders, have an especially increased risk of severe illness and death due to COVID-19 infection. 

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, consider talking with your healthcare professional about the vaccine. Here are some key points to think about:   

The Vaccines Do Work! 

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown repeatedly to help protect from severe illness, hospitalization, and death if you get infected with COVID-19.   

Getting Vaccinated Helps Protect Your Baby  

Getting the vaccine while pregnant helps your immune system create anti-COVID-19 antibodies, which then pass to your baby through the placenta. These antibodies help protect your baby from severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization until they can be vaccinated at age 6 months.   

The Vaccines Don’t Cross the Placenta or Affect Future Fertility  

The current COVID-19 vaccines are not live vaccines. They contain no virus, live or killed. The parts of the vaccine that help your immune system create antibodies do not cross the placenta and do not reach the fetus. They are quickly broken down by the muscle where the vaccine is given. Remember—the vaccine helps your body make protective antibodies, which do cross the placenta and help protect both you and your baby after they’re born.   

There is no evidence that vaccines affect future fertility or cause major changes in the menstrual cycle.  

Four COVID-19 vaccines are available:  

1. Comirnaty/Pfizer-BioNTech  

2. Spikevax/Moderna 

3. Novavax 

4. mNEXSPIKE/Moderna, which was recently approved for people 65 years and older and people 18-64 years at high risk for severe COVID-19. This includes pregnant women, who are at increased risk of COVID-19 complications.  

You can get vaccinated at any time during pregnancy at any time of the year. It’s best to get the vaccine as soon as possible to protect your health and the health of your pregnancy.  

Side effects may occur within the first 3 days after getting vaccinated. They are caused by the immune response to the vaccine and are generally mild. Common side effects include mild to moderate fever, headache, and muscle aches. Fever should be avoided during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended if you develop a fever. This medication is safe during pregnancy and does not affect how the vaccine works. It also does not have any risks for the fetus.

No unexpected pregnancy or fetal problems have occurred since the COVID-19 vaccines were introduced in December 2020. There have been no reports of any increased risk of pregnancy loss, growth problems, or birth defects compared to pregnancies in women who were not vaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration monitor vaccine safety. You can help this effort by signing up for V-safe, a program that monitors people who’ve been vaccinated.