"Because of the Baby"... Hesitant Pregnant Women, Look at the 'Data' [Reading Science]

Clinical Study Results: Achieving Both Protection for Pregnant Women and Fetal Immunity Formation Against COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] Earlier this month, the first death of a pregnant woman confirmed with COVID-19 in South Korea occurred, prompting concerns that it is much safer for pregnant women to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Clinical research results have shown that it is safe for pregnant women to be vaccinated and that the vaccine is effective in prevention. In particular, the likelihood of experiencing risks such as stillbirth or miscarriage is much lower compared to unvaccinated individuals, and the fetus also gains immunity, which can keep it safe up to six months after birth.

According to the international academic journal Nature on the 14th, a study was conducted on 870,000 women who gave birth at 500 hospitals across the United States between January 2020 and February 28, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mortality rate of pregnant women infected with COVID-19 was found to be 15 times higher than that of uninfected pregnant women. Additionally, the risk of severe illness, such as the need for respiratory intubation, was 14 times higher, and the risk of preterm birth was 22 times greater.

Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO), which had previously not recommended vaccination for pregnant women due to potential risks, reversed its stance in June last year, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) followed suit in mid-August. However, as the Delta variant began to spread widely, the damage to pregnant women who had not yet been vaccinated was significant. In October last year, 20% of severe COVID-19 patients in the UK were pregnant women. Furthermore, a CDC report from November last year confirmed that after the spread of the Delta variant, the risk of stillbirth among pregnant women increased by 2.7 times compared to previous variants, and the risk of maternal mortality increased fivefold. By the end of last year, over 25,000 pregnant women in the U.S. had been infected with COVID-19 and hospitalized, with approximately 250 deaths.

On the other hand, pregnant women who received the COVID-19 vaccine have been confirmed to be much safer. A study of 827 pregnant women who gave birth after being vaccinated in June last year showed that the risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital disabilities, and death were similar to those of pregnant women before the pandemic. A preprint study published in August found no increased risk of miscarriage among 2,500 pregnant women vaccinated before or during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Data continues to accumulate showing that the vaccine is not only safe for pregnant women and fetuses but also effective in prevention. In October last year, a study reported that pregnant women who completed their second dose had strong protection against the COVID-19 virus. Subsequent studies also showed that vaccinated pregnant women were less likely to contract COVID-19 before delivery compared to unvaccinated pregnant women.

Protection for the fetus has also been confirmed. The vaccine is transferred to the fetus through the placenta, forming antibodies. This means that newborns, who are vulnerable to external viruses during their first month of life and are not eligible for vaccination, gain immunity. In fact, a research team from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital announced in November last year that 60% of newborns whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy retained antibodies up to six months after birth.

Nevertheless, the global vaccination rate among pregnant women remains below 50%. In the U.S., it is only around 40%. This is due to the rampant spread of "fake news" on social media and the politicization of vaccination decisions.

Experts emphasize that significant changes occur in the immune system of pregnant women, making them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Andrea Edlow, a professor at Harvard Medical School, stated, "When pregnant women are infected with COVID-19, it affects the lungs and cardiovascular system, potentially threatening their lives," adding, "(Vaccination for pregnant women) is a more difficult issue than ever, but it is truly a matter of life or death."

Meanwhile, on the 4th, South Korea reported its first death of a pregnant woman confirmed with COVID-19. The woman, who was 32 weeks pregnant when diagnosed, had underlying health conditions and no record of vaccination. She gave birth at the end of last year while hospitalized, but her symptoms worsened, leading to her death. The newborn tested negative for COVID-19. South Korean health authorities began recommending COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women in October last year, but it remains a voluntary recommendation.