Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Pregnant Women

Abstract

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers across the world hastened to develop vaccines that would aid in bolstering herd immunity. Utilizing mRNA coding and viral vector technology, the currently approved vaccines were required to undergo extensive testing to confirm their safety for mass usage in the general population. However, clinical trials failed to test the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines in groups with weakened immune systems, especially pregnant women. Lack of information on the effects of vaccinations in pregnancy and the safety of fetuses are among the topmost reasons preventing pregnant women from receiving immunization. Thus, the lack of data examining the effects of COVID-19 vaccinations on pregnant women must be addressed. This review focused on the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccinations in pregnancy and their impact on both maternal and fetal immune responses. For that, we took the approach of combined systematic review/meta-analysis and compiled the available data from the original literature from PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline databases. All articles analyzed presented no adverse effects of vaccination in pregnancy, with varying conclusions on the degree of effectiveness. The majority of the findings described robust immune responses in vaccinated pregnant women, successful transplacental antibody transfer, and implications for neonatal immunity. Hence, findings from the cumulative data available can be helpful in achieving COVID-19 herd immunization, including pregnant women.

Clinical characteristics and novel mutations of omicron subvariant XBB in Tamil Nadu, India – a cohort study

“…Prior studies suggest that the two sub-variants of omicron, the BA.1 and BA.2 can successfully evade antibodies generated during natural infection by the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and those originating after vaccination. 11 , 12 A similar trend was also seen with the BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 sub-variants. 13 Other sub-lineages, namely BA.2.75 and BA.2.75.2, also emerged with greater virulence and transmissibility attributes.…”

“…Nonetheless, precedence has taught us that vaccination is the practical option for protecting the population at large by conferring herd immunity, which also appears to be the best prophylactic choice available for the vulnerable population. 12 , 33 Our findings advocate the global need for the continuous genomic surveillance of SARS CoV-2 to closely monitor the emergence of new variants in the community. Given the evolution of new sublineages (like the XBB variants), we also concur with global unanimity that the COVID-19 threat is far from over.…”

COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance During Pregnancy in Europe

“…The key competitors in the worldwide COVID-19 vaccine market, include virus-like particles (VLPs), subunit vaccines, DNA and RNA-based vaccines, viral vector-based vaccines, as well as inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines. Protein subunit, RNA-based and non-replicating viral vector-based platforms have been used mostly [ 8 ].…”

Persistence and Efficacy of Maternal COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Antibodies in Human Milk: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

“…Thus, our pandemic response efforts will be as inclusive and successful as possible since they are tailored to the needs of diverse groups, particularly those who cannot afford to be cared for when they become ill [12]. The metaanalysis attempts to consolidate current scientific findings in order to get a more thorough understanding of the survival of COVID-19 antibodies in human milk following immunization in expecting women [13]. We will aim to provide thorough information on how immunization can help regulate not just moms but also nursing infants during this epidemic.…”