In a recent study published in BMJ Global Health , a team of researchers conducted a systematic review of major databases and a meta-analysis to examine the reactogenicity and impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines on pregnancy outcomes related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among women in perinatal or pregnancy stages. Study: Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis . Image Credit: Anuta23/Shutterstock.
com Research suggests that women who are pregnant are more vulnerable to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections, resulting in substantial morbidity and a higher risk of mortality as compared to women of similar age who are not pregnant. While the COVID-19 vaccine has been the single most effective intervention in limiting the spread of the pandemic and decreasing the severity of infections, a majority of the phase III trials for various COVID-19 vaccines did not include pregnant women, leading to a lack of clarity about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women. Concerns about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines have also resulted in a reluctance among pregnant women to avail of the vaccine.
Furthermore, existing reviews and observational studies have focused only on maternal infection and short-term outcomes or on specific countries or regions, making the findings less relevant and difficult to apply globally. In the present s.
