What could this decision mean for the health of pregnant people?  

Pregnant people are more likely to become very sick from COVID-19 compared with people who aren’t pregnant. Pregnant people are also more likely to need hospitalization and need a breathing tube if they experience severe COVID-19 symptoms. This latest decision may make it harder for some people to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Local clinics and pharmacies may not carry it, and some people may need to pay for it out of pocket if their insurance doesn’t cover it.  

If a person has had COVID-19 or the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters in past years, does that protect them or their baby in any way if they can’t get the vaccine once they are pregnant? 

We know that getting vaccinated during pregnancy protects both mother and baby against COVID-19. Infants 6 months old and younger are among the highest risk groups for COVID-19-related hospitalizations. Getting the vaccine while pregnant helps the immune system create anti-COVID-19 antibodies, which then pass to the fetus through the placenta. These antibodies help protect babies from severe COVID-19 illness and hospitalization after they’re born.  

 It’s not known exactly how long the protection from the COVID-19 vaccination lasts. It’s likely that people who’ve been vaccinated are better protected than people who’ve never had COVID-19 infection or haven’t been vaccinated. However, this protection probably weakens over time. For a pregnant person, this means fewer antibodies are transferred to the fetus compared with someone who gets vaccinated during pregnancy.  Research shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster during pregnancy gives added protection for mom and baby.  

If I'm pregnant and can't get a COVID-19 booster, will I be able to pass some immunity onto my baby? 

It is not likely that infants will be born with enough protection without vaccination during pregnancy.  

If I am in my first trimester of pregnancy, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine now or wait until the Fall when the latest booster comes out? 

We recommend you stay up to date with the most recent COVID-19 vaccine. If you have already gotten the most recent vaccine, you do not need to get another vaccine right now.  

What do you recommend a pregnant or soon-to-be pregnant person do right now in response to this news?  

We recommend that anyone who hasn’t ever received a COVID-19 vaccine get it right away. We also recommend people stay up to date on the most recent COVID-19 vaccine. If you recently had or currently have COVID-19 infection, it’s still important to stay up to date with your vaccines, but it’s recommended to wait 3 months to get your updated vaccine.  

Apart from vaccines, how can pregnant moms-to-be protect themselves from COVID-19? 

Pregnant people can take the following steps to help protect themselves against COVID-19:  

• Wash your hands often with soap and water to help stop the spread of germs.  

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, especially those with cold and flu-like symptoms.  

• Wear a mask in crowded places or if you may be around someone who is sick. N95 respirators offer better protection than surgical masks.   

Given all the misinformation online, where can a pregnant mom-to-be still go for the best info about COVID-19 vaccines for herself and her babies? 

There are many websites about COVID-19 vaccination and other related information, but it’s important to find reliable sources. There are many trusted sources of information about vaccination in pregnancy and childhood. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine offers a Vaccination Guide for Pregnancy on its patient education site, highriskpregnancy.org. Other groups with good information include the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, MotherToBaby, and Vaccinate Your Family.  

What is the best way to protect my baby from COVID-19 once they are born? 

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is the best way to reduce the risks of COVID-19 infection for both you and your baby. If you are not vaccinated during pregnancy, your baby should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able to at age 6 months.