COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

People who are Pregnant

CDC recommends that people who are pregnant get vaccinated and stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a COVID-19 booster shot when it's time to get one. CDC recommendations align with those from professional medical organizations serving people who are pregnant, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologistsexternal icon , Society for Maternal Fetal Medicineexternal icon , and the American Society for Reproductive Medicineexternal icon , along with many other professional medical organizations.

Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination, but the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19, and keeping you as healthy as possible during pregnancy is important for the health of your baby. If you are pregnant, consider having a conversation with your healthcare professional about COVID-19 vaccination. While such a conversation might be helpful, it is not required before vaccination. You can receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster shot, without any additional documentation from your healthcare professional.

Common Questions about Vaccination during Pregnancy

What are the long-term effects on the baby when a person gets a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy?

Scientific studies to date have shown no safety concerns for babies born to people who were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy.^1,5 Based on how these vaccines work in the body, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for long-term health effects. CDC continues to monitor, analyze, and disseminate information from people vaccinated during all trimesters of pregnancy to better understand effects on pregnancy and babies.

When during pregnancy should a person get a COVID-19 vaccine?

CDC and professional medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recommend COVID-19 vaccination at any point in pregnancy, as well as booster doses for those eligible. COVID-19 vaccination can protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19, and keeping you as healthy as possible during pregnancy is important for the health of your baby.

Which COVID-19 vaccine should pregnant people receive?

In most situations, including for people who are pregnant and people who are breastfeeding, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination due to the risk of serious adverse events. Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a rare but serious adverse event that causes blood clots in large blood vessels and low platelets (blood cells that help form clots) and is associated with the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine recipients must be informed of the risks and benefits of J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccination. The J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations, including for persons who

• Had a severe reaction after an mRNA vaccine dose or who have a severe allergy to an ingredient of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines),
• Would otherwise remain unvaccinated for COVID-19 due to limited access to Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines); or
• Wants to get the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine despite the safety concerns.

Learn more about the considerations for J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

People who are Breastfeeding

CDC recommends that people who are breastfeeding get vaccinated and stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a COVID-19 booster shot when it's time to get one. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination, but the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations. Clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines currently used in the United States did not include people who were breastfeeding. Therefore, there are limited data available on the

• Safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who are breastfeeding
• Effects of vaccination on the breastfed baby
• Effects on milk production or excretion

COVID-19 vaccines cannot cause COVID-19 infection in anyone, including the mother or the baby. None of the COVID-19 vaccines contain live virus. Vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19 in people who are breastfeeding. Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies. More data are needed to determine what level of protection these antibodies may provide to the baby.^{13, 16-20}

Vaccine Side Effects

Side effects can occur after receiving any of the available COVID-19 vaccines, especially after the second dose for vaccines that require two doses or a booster. People who are pregnant have not reported different side effects from people who are not pregnant after vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines). ¹ Fever, for any reason, has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Fever in pregnancy may be treated with acetaminophen as needed, in moderation, and in consultation with a healthcare provider. Learn more at Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.

Although rare, some people have had severe allergic reactions after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have a history of allergic reaction to any other vaccine or injectable therapy (intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous).

Key considerations you can discuss with your healthcare provider include:

• The benefits of vaccination
• The unknown risks of developing a severe allergic reaction
• If you have an allergic reaction after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, you can receive treatment for it.

People Who Would Like to Have a Baby

CDC recommends that people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future, as well as their partners, get vaccinated and stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including getting a COVID-19 booster shot when it's time to get one. Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna (mRNA COVID-19 vaccines) are preferred over the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine for primary and booster vaccination, but the J&J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may be considered in some situations. In addition, everyone who is trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future, should get a booster shot if eligible.

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