FACTCHECK: False—COVID-19 vaccination causes miscarriage in pregnant people
As the initial frenzy about the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, fears still persist among pregnant people regarding the vaccination and its subsequent booster. Many took to social media to express their concerns or even dissuade others from receiving the vaccine. One myth that has been circulating is that the vaccine increases the risk of miscarriage. According to experts, this is not true.
In response to the question of whether COVID-19 vaccination increases the risk of miscarriage among pregnant individuals, Dr. Meera Garcia, a board-certified OB/GYN and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, clarified that this myth is not accurate. According to Garcia, “That is not true. It [vaccination] does not increase the risk of miscarriage [for] pregnant people. Whether you receive the vaccine before you get pregnant or you receive the vaccination during pregnancy, there is no increase [in the risk of miscarriage].”
Dr. Garcia also acknowledged some concerns regarding vaccination side effects during pregnancy, including “high fevers, the body aches, [or] just feeling really run down for a while.” However, these symptoms are non-threatening toward pregnancy and can be managed safely. Garcia further noted that there is no substantial impact in either a positive or negative direction regarding miscarriage risk related to COVID-19 vaccination. However, it is crucial to highlight that contracting COVID-19 during early pregnancy appears to be associated with more complications compared to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
With mounting evidence about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant people, the AmNews also talked with Elyse Kharbanda, M.D., M.P.H, executive director of research at the HealthPartners Institute, about her publication, “COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in Early Pregnancy and Surveillance for Spontaneous Abortion.” She and colleagues investigated whether the COVID-19 booster vaccination in early pregnancy was associated with an increase in spontaneous abortion.
In the study, researchers found no association between the risk of miscarriage and the COVID-19 booster vaccination. They analyzed more than 100,000 unique pregnancies at six to 19 weeks’ gestational age over an eight-month period, and found no increased odds of experiencing miscarriage 28 days post-vaccination in women who received the COVID-19 booster vaccination compared with ongoing pregnancies. The researchers also carried out a second analysis of the data and found no increased odds of experiencing natural miscarriage 42 days post-vaccination in women who received COVID-19 boosters compared to those who did not.
“We [want to] continue for people to receive the same messages about vaccine safety and sort of have trust in the data that we’re presenting,” Kharbanda said. “But this is something we see, and not just with COVID-19 vaccines, but also flu vaccine and pregnancy—that there [are] differences in who’s accepting of these vaccines. Then you worry about…worsening health disparities if you know populations that are avoiding vaccines. Then again, they and their infants are also more predisposed to these infections.”
Garcia stressed that it is vital to obtain accurate information about the COVID-19 vaccine: “You can trust sources like the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, PubMed, and the World Health Organization for scientifically sound information. It’s best to avoid blogs, Reddit, TikTok, and social media, where unverified information can circulate freely. While information from friends and family is valuable, always verify it. Remember, anecdotes do not constitute data. Rely on the extensive body of literature available through trusted outlets for informed decisions.”
Currently, the CDC and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend that pregnant people be vaccinated, including with the latest COVID-19 vaccination from fall 2023. Vaccination can be conducted at any point in pregnancy with any type of vaccine available, and can be combined with other vaccinations.
To find vaccine availability near you, visit https://vaccinefinder.nyc.gov and www.vaccines.gov/.
For additional resources about COVID-19, go to www.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccines.page or call 311.
COVID-19 testing, masks, and vaccination resources can also be found on the AmNews COVID-19 page: www.amsterdamnews.com/covid/.