Maternal and perinatal outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate maternal adverse effects and perinatal and neonatal outcomes of women receiving coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven hundred and sixty pregnant women who were followed up in obstetrics outpatients were included in this prospective cohort study. COVID-19 vaccination and infection histories of the patients were recorded. Demographic data, including age, parity, and presence of systemic disease and adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination were recorded. Vaccinated pregnant women were compared with unvaccinated women in terms of adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Among the 760 pregnant women who met study criteria, the data of 425 pregnant women were analyzed. Among these, 55 (13%) were unvaccinated, 134 (31%) were vaccinated before pregnancy, and 236 (56%) pregnant women were vaccinated during pregnancy. Of those who were vaccinated, 307 patients (83%) received BioNTech, 52 patients (14%) received CoronaVac, and 11 patients (3%) received both CoronaVac and BioNTech. The local and systemic adverse effect profiles of patients who received COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy were similar (p=0.159), and the most common adverse effect was injection site pain. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy did not increase the ratio of abortion (<14 wk), stillbirth (>24 wk), preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal growth restriction, second-trimester soft marker incidence, time of delivery, birth weight, preterm birth (<37 wk) or admission to the neonatal intensive care unit compared to the women who were not vaccinated during pregnacy. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy did not increase maternal local and systemic adverse effects or poor perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Therefore, regarding the increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to COVID-19 in pregnant women, the authors propose that COVID-19 vaccination should be offered to all pregnant women.