Q: I'm pregnant. Can I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all people 12 and older, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant or might become pregnant in the future. Growing data, monitored by the CDC and other safety and regulatory bodies, have found no adverse pregnancy-related outcomes, including miscarriage, associated with any of the COVID-19 vaccines currently available.
There is, however, evidence that pregnant people who contract COVID-19 are at higher risk for developing severe symptoms compared to non-pregnant people, and pregnant people with COVID-19 are at increased risk for complications and poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology strongly recommends that pregnant and lactating individuals be vaccinated against COVID-19. The known and documented risks of the coronavirus during pregnancy far outweigh the theoretical risk of harm from the vaccine.
If you have concerns about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine, be sure to speak with your doctor.
Dr. Donna Hobgood is an obstetrician/gynecologist with Erlanger Women's Institute of Specialized Health and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.
Contributed Photo / Dr. Donna Hobgood