As of December 2, 2021, more than 234 million people in the United States have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, vaccination among pregnant people remains low. CDC’s COVID Data Tracker shows that as of November 27, 2021, the proportion of fully vaccinated pregnant people has increased to 35%, but most pregnant people remain unprotected against COVID-19. CDC recommends that people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or who might become pregnant in the future, get vaccinated against COVID-19. CDC also recommends that fully vaccinated pregnant people 18 years and older receive a COVID-19 booster dose.
People who are pregnant or were recently pregnant are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, including ICU admission, ventilator use, and death. A recent studyexternal iconfound that for pregnant people with COVID-19 after Delta became predominant, the risk of ICU admission was 66% higher than before Delta became predominant. The risk of needing a ventilator or special equipment to breathe was 63% higher, and the risk of death was more than 2 times higher than in the pre-Delta period.* A second study found that compared with people without a COVID-19 diagnosis at delivery, pregnant people with a COVID-19 diagnosis at delivery had nearly twice the risk of having a stillbirth.** After Delta become predominant, women with COVID-19 during pregnancy had 4 times the risk of having a stillbirth.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can prevent severe illness, death, and pregnancy complications related to COVID-19. CDC datashow that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who are pregnant, including those early in pregnancy. Additionally, there is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men. Many people have become pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, including some who got vaccinated during COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talk with your healthcare provider. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit vaccines.gov; text your ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX); or call 1-800-232-0233.
*The risk for severe illness also increased for non-pregnant women of reproductive age (15─44 years) with COVID-19 during the Delta period, compared with the pre-Delta period.
**COVID-19 diagnosis may have represented a current or past infection.
