About the COVID-19 Vaccine and Pregnancy
The COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you from getting COVID-19, a disease caused by a new type of coronavirus. This handout tells you more about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Why get vaccinated?
The COVID-19 virus can cause serious, life-threatening problems, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you or others. COVID-19 spreads from person to person.
If you get the COVID-19 virus, you could spread the disease to family, friends, and others around you. Getting the vaccine as soon as possible could help prevent you from getting sick from the COVID-19 virus.
If you still catch COVID-19 after getting the vaccine, the illness symptoms will probably be less severe than if they had not gotten the vaccine.
Is the vaccine safe for women who are pregnant or plan to get pregnant?
There is no clear data to show how the vaccine affects women who are pregnant, or plan to get pregnant. The vaccines that we have available should not affect pregnancy or harm fetuses because they do not contain live virus data suggests pregnant women are potentially at increased risk for severe COVID-19 associated illness compared to non-pregnant women and may be more likely to have a preterm birth.
Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), recommends that pregnant and breastfeeding women discuss the vaccine with their healthcare provider and be offered the vaccine when it becomes available for eligible high risk individuals and the general population.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that discussing the vaccine with your doctor can be a helpful thing to do but is not required before getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
Can someone get COVID-19 from the vaccine?
No, you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The two vaccines that have been approved for use contain no active or killed virus particles.
Will the vaccine prevent me from getting COVID-19?
The currently approved vaccines prevent about 95% of people from getting sick from the COVID-19 virus. If you still gets COVID-19 after getting the vaccine, their symptoms will probably be less severe than if they had not gotten the vaccine.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and works well. The risk of serious problems from getting COVID-19 is much higher than the risk of serious problems from getting the vaccine. So it’s safer to get the vaccine than it is to catch COVID-19. It will take a while for everyone to get the vaccine, so it is still important for everyone, including people who have gotten the vaccine, to continue the following preventive measures:
- Wearing a mask
- Washing hands often
- Staying at least 6 feet away from others
If I have had an allergic reaction to a shot in the past, should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
People who have had an allergic reaction to any vaccine or shot should talk to their healthcare provider before getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Your Provider can help you figure out if it would be safe to get the vaccine.
If someone has already had COVID-19, should they still get the vaccine?
The vaccine may still help people who have already gotten sick from the COVID-19 virus. Doctors and scientists do not know how long someone is protected from getting sick again after having COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine appears to be safe in people who have already gotten sick from COVID-19. The CDC recommends that the vaccine be given to people who have had COVID-19.
If you still have COVID-19 symptoms, you should not get the vaccine until your symptoms go away and your doctor says it is safe.
Can my baby get the COVID-19 vaccine?
At this time, there are two main vaccines available:
- Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: This vaccine can be used for people over 16 years of age.
- Moderna COVID-19 vaccine: This vaccine can be used for people over 18 years of age.
What if I have more questions about the vaccine?
The health and safety of you and your family are important to us. Thank you for partnering with us during this difficult time. Our providers are here for our patients and their families. If you have questions, please ask your care team.
