Coronavirus (COVID-19) ACOG Recommends COVID Vaccine While Pregnant or Breastfeeding By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie Twitter Claire Gillespie is a freelance writer specializing in mental health. She’s written for The Washington Post, Vice, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, The Huffington Post, and many more. Claire is passionate about raising awareness for mental health issues and helping people experiencing them not feel so alone. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 11, 2022 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr LinkedIn Twitter Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist who has covered technology, finance, sports, and lifestyle. Learn about our editorial process Print SDI Productions / E+ / Getty Update, September 10, 2022 COVID-19 vaccine trials and studies in people who are pregnant show that the vaccines are safe and effective and do not increase the risk of pregnancy complications.An August 2022 review study that looked at data from over 180,000 vaccinated pregnant people found no harmful effects on pregnancy or newborns and that the COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe disease in those that do get infected.Research also shows that COVID-19 vaccination is safe while breastfeeding—and some immunity may be passed on to the baby.Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for people who are pregnant and/or breastfeeding.mRNA vaccines, which include the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Spikevax, are recommended over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Pregnant and lactating people were excluded from the early clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines. However, subsequent studies and vaccination data collected from these populations in the past year have shown that the vaccine is both safe and effective during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Studies conducted in 2021 showed that the chance of severe infection with COVID-19 is higher during pregnancy. This finding, combined with studies demonstrating the vaccine's safety, has led the CDC to conclude that the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known risks for pregnant and breastfeeding people. Can the COVID-19 Vaccine Harm a Breastfed Baby? While pregnant and lactating people were not included in initial COVID-19 clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of the vaccine has since been studied in this population. or on the effect of mRNA vaccines on the breastfed infant or on milk production, the CDC states that “mRNA vaccines are not thought to be a risk to the breastfeeding infant.” Studies have confirmed that antibodies from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines pass into breast milk, potentially giving protection to breastfed infants. Thus, the CDC and ACOG recommend the the vaccine for people who are breastfeeding. Preference is given to the mRNA vaccines, although Johnson & Johnson's vaccine may be considered in certain circumstances. This means making a decision based on very limited information. But some reassurance may come from a practice advisory issued on December 13, 2020, by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). It states that the mRNA vaccines are not live virus vaccines, and don’t use an adjuvant to enhance vaccine efficacy. This means they don’t enter the nucleus, or alter human DNA in the vaccine recipient. As such, they can’t cause any genetic changes. The ACOG believes that “COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to lactating individuals similar to non-lactating individuals when they meet criteria for receipt of the vaccine based on prioritization groups outlined by the ACIP [Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices].” In other words, they’re on the same page as the CDC—it’s up to the individual whether they get the vaccine or not. Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LCCE Parents have to make an informed decision—they have to know if they are at risk for having complications from a vaccine or have risks that make having COVID-19 more serious for them. — Leigh Anne O'Connor, IBCLC, LCCE Obviously, there are still unknowns regarding the vaccine during pregnancy and in lactating people. But the ACOG says “theoretical concerns regarding the safety of vaccinating lactating individuals do not outweigh the potential benefits of receiving the vaccine.” The organization adds that there is no need to avoid starting or continuing with breastfeeding if you get the vaccine. New Parents Don’t Need More Pressure International board certified lactation consultant Leigh Anne O’Connor, IBCLC, LCCE, says she’s concerned that the lack of data about the safety of the vaccine in breastfeeding people will put additional pressure on them at a time when they’re already physically and mentally exhausted. But O’Connor believes that from the data that’s available, the benefits outweigh the risks. “Little or none of the components of the vaccine will pass into the baby through the mom's milk,” she says. “Plus, there is the suggestion that the baby will gain additional immunity from the breastfeeding parent. Parents have to make an informed decision—they have to know if they are at risk for having complications from a vaccine or have risks that make having COVID-19 more serious for them.” Sherry Ross, MD Even though there is no scientific data available on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the OB/GYN experts at the ACOG are making some calculated guidelines for this high-risk group. — Sherry Ross, MD It’s new territory, and it’s important to talk through your decision with your midwife, OB/GYN, pediatrician, or family doctor to rule out any risk factors. “If there are no other risks, then the vaccine is likely safe,” O’Connor says. Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN, and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, agrees. “The new COVID-19 vaccine has brought some much-needed light amidst the darkness of the pandemic,” she says. “Even though there is no scientific data available on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant and breastfeeding women, the OB/GYN experts at the ACOG are making some calculated guidelines for this high risk group.” What This Means For You Unless you’re a health care worker, it may be a long while before you’re actually offered the COVID-19 vaccine. But if you do fall into a priority group and you're pregnant or breastfeeding, it may be in your best interest to get the vaccine. The choice is yours—but discuss it with your healthcare provider, who can hopefully help to clarify the situation and alleviate any concerns you may have. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newerinformation may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates onCOVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page. 6 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lipkind HS. Receipt of covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy and preterm or small-for-gestational-age at birth — eight integrated health care organizations, united states, December 15, 2020–July 22, 2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2022;71. Kalafat E, Heath P, Prasad S, O Brien P, Khalil A. COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;227(2):136-147. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.020 National Institutes of Health. How COVID-19 affects pregnancy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding. Kelly JC, Carter EB, Raghuraman N, et al. Anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies induced in breast milk after Pfizer-BioNTech/BNT162b2 vaccination. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021;225(1):101-103. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2021.03.031 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. COVID-19 vaccination considerations for obstetric-gynecologic care. By Claire Gillespie Claire Gillespie is a freelance writer specializing in mental health. She’s written for The Washington Post, Vice, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, The Huffington Post, and many more. Claire is passionate about raising awareness for mental health issues and helping people experiencing them not feel so alone. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit