Can pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Aug 09, 2021
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
Vaccination against COVID-19 is deferred during pregnancy. In China, approved COVID-19 vaccines primarily include inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines (e.g., adenovirus-based and attenuated influenza virus-based vectors), and nucleic acid vaccines. Currently, only inactivated vaccines have been authorized for emergency use. Given the urgent need for epidemic prevention and control, these vaccines are administered primarily to prevent disease.
As nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programs continue to roll out, an increasing number of people have received the vaccine. For pregnant women, infection prevention is especially critical. So, can pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Below, we address this question.
Can pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
Pregnant women are currently advised to defer COVID-19 vaccination. In China, authorized COVID-19 vaccines include inactivated vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines, viral vector vaccines (e.g., adenovirus-based or live attenuated influenza virus-based vectors), and nucleic acid vaccines (e.g., mRNA or DNA vaccines). Currently approved vaccines for emergency use in China are all inactivated vaccines. Given urgent public health needs, these vaccines are primarily administered for disease prevention. However, due to limited clinical data on safety and efficacy in pregnancy, most vaccines—including COVID-19 vaccines—are not routinely recommended for use during pregnancy. For individuals planning pregnancy, however, COVID-19 vaccination is permissible. It is advisable to wait 1–2 months after completing the two-dose vaccination series before attempting conception, to minimize potential impacts on maternal and fetal health.
Knowledge Expansion: Who Should Not Receive Vaccination?
1. During Fever
Fever—aside from common upper respiratory tract infections—may signal the early stage of certain infectious diseases. Vaccination during fever may exacerbate febrile illness and could lead to misattribution of disease symptoms to vaccine side effects, potentially compromising future vaccination decisions. Therefore, individuals experiencing fever—particularly high fever—should postpone vaccination.
2. Allergic Constitution
Individuals with known allergies or a history of allergic conditions (e.g., allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, urticaria, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or food allergies) are at increased risk of allergic reactions following vaccination. Prior to vaccination, such individuals should identify their specific allergens. Vaccines containing those allergens must be avoided; conversely, vaccines free of the relevant allergen may be safely administered.
3. Acute Infectious Diseases
Vaccination is generally contraindicated during the incubation, prodromal, acute, or convalescent phases of acute infectious diseases—except for vaccines indicated for emergency prophylaxis. Administering vaccines during the incubation or prodromal phase may trigger or worsen the underlying illness; vaccination during the acute phase may similarly exacerbate disease severity. Furthermore, individuals who have had close contact with confirmed infectious disease cases during an outbreak should also avoid immediate vaccination.
The above outlines whether pregnant women may receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We hope this information proves helpful.
