ToplineThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged all pregnant women and nursing mothers to get vaccinated against the coronavirus Wednesday. This is due to increasing evidence that vaccines are safe and effective, as more cases and hospitalizations related to the virus surge across America.A pregnant woman is given a dose of the Moderna vaccination against COVID-19 at the Maternity and Children's Hospital of the Trinidad in Asuncion in June. AFP via Getty ImagesThe Key FactsAlthough the CDC has previously advised pregnant women to get vaccinated, Wednesday was the first official recommendation by the agency. The CDC states that pregnant women are less likely than the general population to be vaccinated with coronavirus. According to the CDC, pregnant women who have received Moderna or Pfizer vaccines have not experienced side effects different from other people. A recent CDC analysis also found that vaccinations do not increase the risk of miscarriage. Recent research has shown that coronavirus infection can dramatically increase the chance of a pregnant woman having an unplanned child. This is linked to a higher likelihood of children developing serious, long-term health problems. A small March study suggested that mothers who have been vaccinated may pass on antibodies to their children through lactation and pregnancy. These antibodies help combat coronavirus.Important QuoteDr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, stated that vaccines are safe, effective, and that it is urgent to increase vaccinations. "We face the highly transmissible Delta variant, which can lead to severe outcomes for unvaccinated pregnant women, and we see severe consequences from COVID-19," she said in a statement.Important BackgroundAccording to CDC data, approximately 50% of Americans have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Due to the more dangerous delta variant of the virus, the U.S. is seeing a resurgence in new infections and hospitalizations. To prevent another outbreak, certain states and cities have reintroduced coronavirus restrictions like indoor masking mandates or vaccine passports.Continue readingResearch suggests that pregnant and breastfeeding women could pass on the Coronavirus Immunity to their babies, according to Forbes.Covid-19 In Pregnant Women Endangers Unborn Children (Forbes)First Born With Covid-19 Antibodies by Vaccinated Mother (Forbes).Pregnant Women Are At Higher Risk For Severe Covid-19 And Death (Forbes)
