The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil

Christopher J. Hernandez, Kavya G. Sundar, Fernando Echegaray, Mary Catherine Cambou, Lanbo Z. Yang, Eddy R. Segura, Marineide Gonçalves de Melo, Breno Riegel Santos, Ivana Rosângela dos Santos Varella, Karin Nielsen-Saines

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described. This study aims to examine the protective effects of maternal COVID-19 vaccination on both maternal and neonatal outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that leveraged medical data from a tertiary center in South Brazil to compare maternal and infant outcomes between hospitalized pregnant persons with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 March 2020, and 1 March 2023. Results: In total, 524 patients were enrolled, including 275 pregnant patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 249 without infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with maternal ventilator support (adjusted Risk Ratio [aRR] = 1.48, 95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 1.08–2.03), while receipt of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine was associated with protection against maternal sepsis (aRR = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03–0.56), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (aRR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.10–0.68), need for ventilator support (aRR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43–0.84), infant admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (aRR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47–0.82), and neonatal respiratory distress (aRR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.43–0.83). Conclusions: These findings further underscore the importance of maternal vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy. Even one dose of vaccine was protective against a variety of maternal and neonatal outcomes. Prenatal care should encourage COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1445
JournalVaccines
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • pregnancy outcomes
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • vaccination

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