Authorities deem Covid-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women

Studies conducted by health authorities in the country and abroad have shown that Covid-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant and lactating (breastfeeding) women, and are urging them to be vaccinated to safeguard their health and that of their baby.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), pregnant and postnatal women are at increased risk of severe Covid-19 disease compared with women of childbearing age who are not pregnant. A report on trial usage of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine in pregnant and lactating women published by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) earlier this year, also suggested that Covid-19 is associated with a higher risk of preterm birth.

In response to the studies undertaken, recommendations were made by NICD and include the following:

• The vaccine should be offered to women who are eligible to be vaccinated, during any stage of pregnancy and during lactation.
• Providing vaccination to pregnant and breastfeeding women during routine antenatal and postnatal visits should be considered.
• Those of childbearing age who are contemplating pregnancy should consider receiving the Covid-19 vaccination.
• Healthcare workers should discuss possible risks (from the disease) and benefits (from the vaccines) with patients.

Reports from further afield

Public health agency Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reports that while research surrounding the safety and effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine for pregnant women is limited, ‘data suggests that the benefits of receiving a Covid-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy’.

As of October 7, these findings were available from the CDC report:

• Tests performed on pregnant animals that received the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccine before or during pregnancy showed no safety concerns for the animals or their babies.
• No adverse pregnancy-related outcomes occurred in previous clinical trials that used the same vaccine platform as the J&J vaccine.
• Covid-19 vaccines do not cause infection, including in pregnant people or their babies.
• Early data on the safety of receiving an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) during pregnancy is reassuring.
• Early data suggests receiving an mRNA Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy reduces the risk of infection.
• Vaccination builds antibodies and in a pregnant woman, this might protect the baby.

For the detailed report, click here.

Commonly asked questions

Discovery Health published an article that answered commonly asked questions about the Covid-19 vaccine. The group states that while numerous studies are underway in relation to the vaccine and pregnant and lactating women, thus far thousands of vaccines have been administered ‘as part of the global vaccine roll-out programmes and have been found to be safe’.

Information provided in the article also states that early scientific evidence has shown that babies can get some level of protection when their mother is vaccinated. This is as a result of the mother’s antibodies being passed on to the baby during pregnancy.

In post-pregnancy, antibodies may also be passed to the baby from the breastmilk.

The group says the World Health Organisation and SAHPRA do not recommend stopping breastfeeding to get vaccinated against the virus, and reported that getting vaccinated cannot infect a mother or her breastfeeding baby with the Covid-19 virus.