Perinatology.  2021 Sep;32(3):111-116. 10.14734/PN.2021.32.3.111.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Present and Future

• Pae J
• Ko HS

• KMID: 2522526
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14734/PN.2021.32.3.111

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) infection has shown higher morbidity and mortality in pregnant women, compared to non­pregnant women. Until June 2021, among COVID-19 vaccines, two types of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and two types of virus vector vaccines have been available in Korea. However, because pregnant women have been excluded in the preauthorization clinical trials, most countries suggested that pregnant women need to counsel risks of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 complications, and the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccines, at the initial stage of vaccination. In Korea, any COVID-19 vaccine has not been authorized in pregnant women. However, clinical data continuously demonstrate high morbidities and mortality of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women, as well as pregnancy complications including preterm delivery, which can affect neonatal outcomes. After the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines, safety outcome data in pregnant women has been increased. Therefore, recent guidelines of COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women have been updated, in developed countries. Most guidelines suggest that pregnant women should not be excluded from the COVID-19 vaccination, especially in women with old age, underlying disease, or obesity. Based on the updated data about COVID-19 clinical outcomes in pregnant women and information from clinical trials and from data collected vaccinated pregnant women, strategy and guidelines from multidisciplinary cooperation by government and medical professionals in the department of infection, maternal fetal medicine, and neonatology are ungently required to protect pregnant women and neonates in Korea, in the present and future.

Keyword

Coronavirus; COVID-19; Vaccines; Pregnant women