Pregnant women do well with COVID vaccine, survey finds

Date:
August 17, 2021
Source:
University of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine
Summary:
A survey of more than 17,000 pregnant and lactating women who
received the COVID-19 vaccine showed that they did not experience
symptoms any more severe than their non-pregnant counterparts.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A survey of more than 17,000 pregnant and lactating individuals who
received the COVID-19 vaccine showed that the individuals did not
experience symptoms any more severe than their non-pregnant counterparts.


==========================================================================
The UW Medicine study, published today in JAMA Network Open, showed
"there were not any increased reactions in pregnant individuals beyond
what is expected from a vaccine," said Dr. Linda Eckert, a professor
of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington School of
Medicine and the study's senior author.

"Pregnant people do well with the vaccine," added lead author Dr. Alisa Kachikis.

The findings come a week after the Centers for Diseases Control and
Prevention formally recommended that all pregnant women get vaccinated
against the virus.

The CDC reported that only 23% of U.S. pregnant women were vaccinated
as of the end of July. The percentage is even lower among Black and
Latina women.

"We hope that this data will be another reassuring piece of information
...

about why pregnant individuals need to get vaccinated against COVID-19,"
Eckert said. "Not only is the vaccine safe, our research shows just
how well the vaccine is tolerated in pregnant individuals -- which is
a common fear I hear from my patients. In contrast, we are continuing
to learn more and more about just how dangerous COVID-19 infections are
in pregnancy." In January 2021, Kachikis set up an online cohort study
of women: those who were pregnant or lactating and those who were neither pregnant nor lactating.

The women were invited to describe their reactions after receiving
at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. By March, 17,525 individuals
had responded.



==========================================================================
The respondents comprised women who were pregnant (44%) or lactating
(38%) and those who stated plans to get pregnant in the near future (15%).

The majority (62%) received the Pfizer vaccine and most of the
participants resided in the United States. Respondents reported pain at
the injection site (91%) and fatigue (31%), and a mean temperature of
100 degrees Fahrenheit after the shot. A small group (5-7%) reported a
decrease in milk supply post- vaccination.

The study supports that women tolerate the vaccine well and that they
should be included in clinical trials for other relevant vaccines,
Eckert said.

"I'm not surprised but I am pleased by the outcome. It's further evidence
that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated in pregnant individuals."
There are currently 20,000 women enrolled in the study and new respondents continue to post their experiences, Kachikis added.

The researchers hope to expand the study to other socioeconomic groups and
to women not so closely tied to heathcare, as this group was, Eckert said.

"I think this gives a level of evidence to advocate for Phase 3 trials
(for pregnant individuals) in the future," Eckert said.

Aside from the CDC vsafe registery, this is the largest U.S. study of
this issue. Canada has created a registry based on Kachikis' model.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Washington_School_of_Medicine/UW_Medicine.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Alisa Kachikis, Janet A. Englund, Michael Singleton, Isabela
Covelli,
Alison L. Drake, Linda O. Eckert. Short-term Reactions Among
Pregnant and Lactating Individuals in the First Wave of the COVID-19
Vaccine Rollout.

JAMA Network Open, Aug. 17, 2021; DOI:
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.21310 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210817113039.htm

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