Vaccinating Pregnant Individuals

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all eligible persons, including pregnant and lactating individuals, receive a COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine series. While pregnant individuals are encouraged to discuss vaccination considerations with their clinical care team when feasible, documentation of such a discussion should not be required prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Further, pregnant individuals should not be denied COVID-19 vaccine(s) because of their pregnancy status alone. COVID-19 vaccination sites should consider the recommendations below and in ACOG’s clinical guidance regarding vaccinating pregnant individuals.

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1. Pregnant individuals should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
2. While pregnant individuals are encouraged to discuss vaccination considerations with their clinical care team when feasible, documentation of such a discussion should not be required prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
3. Pregnancy testing should not be a requirement prior to receiving any EUA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
4. Similar to their non-pregnant peers, pregnant individuals can receive a COVID-19 vaccine in any setting authorized to administer these vaccines. This includes any clinical setting and nonclinical community-based vaccination sites such as schools, community centers, and other mass vaccination locations.
5. Precautions should be discussed with any individual who reports a history of any immediate allergic reaction to any other vaccine or injectable therapy (i.e., intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous vaccines or therapies not related to a component of COVID-19 vaccines or polysorbate).
6. If anaphylaxis is suspected in a pregnant individual after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, anaphylaxis should be managed the same as in non-pregnant individuals (CDC).
7. Pregnant individuals who experience fever following vaccination should be counseled to take acetaminophen. Acetaminophen has been proven to be safe for use in pregnancy and does not appear to impact antibody response to COVID-19 vaccines.
8. Pregnant individuals who receive a COVID-19 vaccine should be educated about and encouraged to participate in CDC’s V-SAFE program (see below for more information on CDC’s V-SAFE program).
   
   

For more information, please visit ACOG’s COVID-19 Vaccination Considerations for Obstetric–Gynecologic Care and CDC’s Clinical Considerations.