
Maternal Covid-19 vaccination in the first trimester of pregnancy is not associated with major structural birth defects, according to a study released yesterday. JAMA Pediatrics.
the study The study is based on outcomes observed in women who received one or two mRNA COVID-19 vaccine doses in the first trimester of pregnancy and delivered babies at eight US study sites from March 5, 2021, to January 25, 2022.
Of 42,156 eligible pregnant women, 7,632 (18.1%) were administered the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in the first trimester. 524 pregnant women were not vaccinated against COVID-19 in the first trimester, 2,045 (5.9%) were vaccinated before pregnancy, 13,494 (39.1%) during the second or third trimester, and 18,985 (55.0%) were not vaccinated.
No increase in birth defects
The authors reported that major structural birth defects were found in 113 infants (1.48%) after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in the first trimester, and also in 488 infants (1.41%) who were not vaccinated in the first trimester. The adjusted prevalence ratio was 1.02 (95% confidence interval, 0.78 to 1.33).
Compared to unvaccinated pregnant women, those vaccinated in the first trimester were older (mean age 32.3 years compared to 30.6 years).
No significant difference found between infants vaccinated or not vaccinated in the first trimester
“In secondary analyses, no significant differences were found between infants vaccinated and unvaccinated in the first trimester when major structural birth defect outcomes were grouped by organ system,” the authors said.