Vaccination during pregnancy protects infants from COVID-19

Completion of a 2-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccination series during pregnancy might help prevent COVID-19 hospitalization among infants up to 6 months of age, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Overcoming COVID-19 network conducted a test-negative, case-control study at 20 pediatric hospitals in 17 states from July 1, 2021 to Jan. 17, 2022, to assess the effectiveness of maternal vaccination in preventing COVID-19 hospitalization in infants up to 6 months of age. Vaccination during pregnancy was found to be 61% effective. Separate studies by University of Michigan researchers linked pregnancy to higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, especially among Black individuals, and associated contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy with increased risk of early preeclampsia. (CDC MMWR article, 2/15/22)