The benefit of vaccination in decreased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality far outweighs the tiny risk of serious side effects from receiving the vaccine.
In the early 1960s, obstetricians and pediatricians recognized a syndrome in babies born to mothers who contracted a specific viral infection during pregnancy. These babies had deafness, blindness, heart defects, and intellectual disabilities.
It soon became clear that the infection was spread by airborne droplets. In 1962, the virus was isolated, but a vaccine was years away. In 1964, an epidemic of this infection caused 12.5 million cases in the United States. That year, 20,000 babies were born to mothers who were infected: 11,000 of those babies were deaf, 3,500 were blind, and 1,800 were intellectually disabled. More than 11,000 pregnancies were aborted because of the fear of delivering a child with one or more of these problems.
It took until 1969 for a vaccine to be developed to combat this virus. At that time, research into viruses was in its infancy. That vaccine is now given to all children as part of their scheduled vaccines in the first years of life. The infection was Rubella – also known as German Measles. Now, fewer than 10 cases of Rubella are reported each year in the U.S.
Today, we are confronted with a worldwide pandemic of the SARS-Covid-19 virus. This virus has undergone several mutations (and continues to do so), most notably the current Delta variant. This virus is highly contagious (comparable to Rubella) and is also spread by airborne droplet transmission.
COVID Can Seriously Harm Babies and Pregnant Women
Babies born to mothers who contract the COVID-19 virus have increased rates of hypoxic brain injury (lack of oxygen to the brain), sepsis (blood infection), Necrotizing Entercolitis (NEC, which destroys the walls of the intestines), and bleeding in the brain. All of these conditions threaten the life of the baby and can lead to major disability.
Where Rubella primarily affected newborns, COVID-19 can have very serious consequences for the mother as well. Pregnant women with COVID-19 infection have higher rates of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and admissions for infections requiring care in the ICU. These women also have a 22 times greater risk of dying during their pregnancy when compared to women not infected with COVID-19 while pregnant.
Unlike the Rubella epidemic of the 1960's, it did not take seven years to develop a vaccine to combat COVID-19. Using a new technology, two pharmaceutical companies developed messenger RNA vaccines in less than one year.
Since December 2020, over 350 million doses of these vaccines have been given in the United States alone, with many more given worldwide. Serious side effects of the vaccine such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) occur rarely, about 0.00025% of the time (2.5 per 1 million people vaccinated). No increased risk of birth defects has been seen. The vaccine is also effective over 95% of the time.
It is the position of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that ALL pregnant women, regardless of gestational age, should receive the COVID-19 Vaccine. The benefit of vaccination in decreased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality far outweighs the tiny risk of serious side effects from receiving the vaccine.
Our Core Values at Clear Creek OB/GYN and St. Mary's Health Care System, including St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital, guide our treatment for those who entrust us with their healthcare. We see vaccination as Safe, Just, and Integral to the care of our patients. We encourage everyone to "Get The Shot."
About Dr. Richard White
Dr. Richard White is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist practicing at Clear Creek OB/GYN in Lavonia, part of St. Mary’s Medical Group. He provides obstetrical care to women in all stages of pregnancy, gynecological care for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders affecting the female reproductive system, and post-menopausal care for women who are beyond the childbearing years. Dr. White has been practicing obstetrics and gynecology since 1993.