SMFM Reaffirms COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations During Pregnancy

As the experts in high-risk pregnancy, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) strongly reaffirms its recommendation that pregnant patients receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Pregnancy increases the risk of developing severe illness compared with nonpregnant patients. Maternal immunization remains the best way to reduce maternal, fetal, and infant complications from COVID-19 infection, and is safe to be given at any point during pregnancy. Maternal immunization is also associated with improved infant outcomes and decreased complications, including maternal and infant hospitalizations.  

SMFM recommends that all unvaccinated people who are considering pregnancy, pregnant, recently pregnant, or breastfeeding receive vaccination against COVID-19. Surveillance data collected since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2020, clearly demonstrates the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines in pregnancy.  

All physicians and other health care partners, along with health insurers, should continue recommending COVID-19 vaccination to pregnant patients. Maternal immunization is proven to protect patients and their infants against severe illness and death from infectious diseases.

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About SMFM   
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), founded in 1977, is the medical professional society for obstetricians who have additional training in high-risk, complicated pregnancies. SMFM represents more than 6,500 members who care for high-risk pregnant people and provides education, promotes research, and engages in advocacy to reduce disparities and optimize the health of high-risk pregnant people and their families. SMFM and its members are dedicated to optimizing maternal and fetal outcomes and assuring medically appropriate treatment options are available to all patients.  

Media Contact: 
Greg Phillips 
Press@smfm.og