Pfizer-BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine_(2020)_C By U.S. Secretary of Defense, CC BY 2.0
Pfizer-BioNTech_COVID-19_vaccine_(2020)_C By U.S. Secretary of Defense, CC BY 2.0

COVID-19 jabs and boosters are safe for pregnant and lactating people

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Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Observational study: A study in which the subject is observed to see if there is a relationship between two or more things (eg: the consumption of diet drinks and obesity). Observational studies cannot prove that one thing causes another, only that they are linked.

People: This is a study based on research using people.

A US study of just over 17,000 people, 2,009 (11.8%) of whom were pregnant when having their booster or third dose, and 10,279 (60.4%) of whom were lactating, suggests that COVID-19 boosters or third doses are well tolerated by people who are pregnant and lactating. Most participants (82.8%) reported a local reaction and 67.9% reported at least one systemic symptom after a COVID-19 vaccine booster or third dose, while most pregnant (97.6%) and lactating (96.0%) people reported no obstetric or lactation concerns after being jabbed. The authors say data on COVID-19 vaccine boosters are particularly important as vaccine uptake during pregnancy is lagging, and strategies to reduce hesitancy, increase acceptance, and help guide discussions between pregnant and lactating persons and maternal care professionals are needed.

Journal/conference: JAMA Network Open

Link to research (DOI): 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.30495

Organisation/s: University of Washington, USA

Funder: This projectwas supported by grant K23 AI153390-01 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a 2 K12HD001264-21Women’s Reproductive Health Research Award, and by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award UL1 TR002319 for the purposes of design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Media release

From: JAMA

Analysis of Vaccine Reactions After Booster Doses Among Pregnant, Lactating Individuals

About The Study: The findings of this study with 17,000 participants suggest that COVID-19 boosters or third doses were well tolerated by individuals who were pregnant and lactating. Data on COVID-19 vaccine boosters are particularly important as vaccine uptake during pregnancy is lagging, and strategies to reduce hesitancy, increase acceptance, and help guide discussions between pregnant and lactating persons and maternal care professionals are needed.

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