COVID-19 vaccination and Pregnancy Outcome

 

COVID-19 vaccination and Pregnancy Outcome

Scientific studies to date have shown no safety concerns for babies born to people who were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy. Based on how these vaccines work in the body, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for long-term health effects.

STUDY OUTCOME

The primary study outcome was COVID - 19 vaccine uptake during pregnancy among women eligible for vaccination . Vaccination eligibilty is done by comparing delivery date with vaccination eligibility date based on the mother's age and priority category . In the United Kingdom ( 2021 ) , women became eligible for vaccination based on clinical risk and maternal age , with vaccination offered to pregnant women at the same time as the rest of the population . Women who delivered after the vaccination eligibility date for their age category were considered eligible for antenatal vaccination . Vaccination uptake rate was calculated as the number of women who received at least 1 dose of any COVID - 19 vaccine during pregnancy in a certain group divided by all women eligible for vaccination in that group.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

Secondary outcomes included perinatal outcomes to assess the safety of COVID - 19 vaccination , which included stillbirth ( fetal death at 24 weeks'gestation ) , neonatal death , fetal abnormalities , preterm birth before 37 weeks'gestation , GA at birth in weeks , intrapartum complications ( pyrexia , suspected chorioamnionitis , placental abruption , and postpartum hemorrhage ) , birthweight , mode of birth ( cesarean delivery , instrumental delivery , or unassisted vaginal delivery ) , maternal high - dependency unit or intensive care unit ( ICU ) admission ( any indication ) , and neonatal ICU admission ( any indication ).

Statistical outcome

Continuous variables were represented as median and interquartile range ( IQR ) regardless of the distribution assumptions . Categorical variables were represented as numbers and percentages . The Shapiro Wilk test was used for verifying the normality of continuous variables . Mann - Whitney U test , t test , chi - square test , or Fisher - Freeman Halton test was used for group comparisons as appropriate.Factors associated with antenatal vaccination were assessed among all women eligible for vaccination , by logistic regression . Results of regression analyses were reported as mean difference ( MD ) , OR , or hazard ratio ( HR ) .

 

PREGNANCY OUTCOMES

 • According to COVID - 19 vaccination Women who had antenatal COVID - 19 vaccination ( vs those who did not ) were matched 1 : 3 using propensity scores calculated from maternal age , IMD quintile , self - reported ethnicity , prepregnancy diabetes mellitus , antenatal medication ( any ) , and antenatal antihypertensive therapy , with exact matching on antenatal medication use and deprivation quintile.In a propensity score matched cohort , 133 women who received at least 1 dose of the COVID - 19 vaccine before birth were matched with 399 women . The propensity score histograms of both groups before and after matching . There was no significant difference in intrapartum complications with the exception of intrapartum fever or perinatal outcomes between women who received COVID - 19 vaccination and unvaccinated women during pregnancy .

• Result

Between March 1 , 2021 , and July 4 , 2021 , a total of 1328 eligible women with complete vaccination records were identified . This included 140 women who received at least 1 dose of the COVID - 19 vaccine in pregnancy before birth and 1188 women who did not . That women who received antenatal vaccination ( vs those who did not ) were slightly older , ( ie , higher IMD scores ) , and were more likely to be of White ethnicity than of Afro - Caribbean ethnicity . There was no difference in maternal BMI , alcohol consumption , or smoking habits . Women with COVID - 19 vaccination had significantly higher rates of pregestational diabetes mellitus , antenatal medication use , and hypertension than unvaccinated women.