Awareness and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy

COVID-19 vaccines are safe in pregnancy, as they do not contain a live attenuated virus. Mass vaccination is a key to control the pandemic. Neonates have been shown to be susceptible to severe illness, so maternal vaccination is important to provide neonatal vaccination.

The present study was conducted for a period of one year from November 21, 2021 to October 2O, 2022 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology A.S.J.S.A.T.D.S. medical college, Fatehpur. It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy, safety, attitude, side effect and maternal neonatal outcome of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women.

Out of 3320 pregnant women delivered, only 1170 (35.24%) received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 69.23% were unaware of the type of COVID-19 vaccine. 66.15% were vaccinated for both the doses before pregnancy. 12.30% of women had taken only the first dose of COVID vaccine before pregnancy. Majority had fever with chills after the first dose. Fatigue was most common side effect after second dose, and no one had any rash or allergic reaction. 56.15% delivered vaginally, 37.69% had LSCS for different obstetric indications, and 6.15% had instrumental delivery. During the antenatal period, 38.46% developed anemia, 11.54% had preterm labor, 2.05% had gestational diabetes, 2.30% developed preeclampsia, and 3.85% developed hypothyroidism. 3.07% prolonged labor in intrapartum period, and 6.92% women developed PPH. 50.77% newborns were between 2.5 and 2.9 kg, and majority 71.54% newborns had an APGAR score of 7 or more at 5 minutes. 14.62% newborns had meconium aspiration syndrome, 3.84% had respiratory distress syndrome, and 20.34% needed NICU admission more than 24 hours.

Available data do not support increased risk of adverse outcome following COVID-19 vaccination. We recommend vaccination during pregnancy as benefit outweigh the potential risk.