Impact of maternal COVID 19 vaccination during pregnancy evaluated in large study

Maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is associated with lower risks of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and neonatal intensive care unit admission, as revealed by a large population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada. The study focused on assessing severe neonatal morbidity (SNM), neonatal death, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, neonatal readmission, and hospital admission up to 6 months of age among infants born to vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers.

The study, involved singleton live births expected between May 1, 2021, and September 2, 2022. A total of 142,006 infants were included, with 85,670 exposed to one or more COVID-19 vaccine doses in utero.

The findings revealed that infants born to vaccinated mothers experienced lower risks of SNM, neonatal death, and NICU admission. Specifically, the adjusted risk ratios (aRR) indicated significant risk reduction for these outcomes.

However, maternal vaccination during pregnancy did not show a significant association with neonatal readmission or hospital admission at 6 months of age. These results provide further evidence of the safety and benefits of maternal COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, extending protection to newborns and early infants.

Reference: Jorgensen SCJ, Drover SSM, Fell DB, et al. Newborn and Early Infant Outcomes Following Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy. JAMA Pediatr. Published online October 23, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4499