Vaccination and pregnancy: COVID-19

On this page

• Benefits of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on fertility
• Individual public health measures

Benefits of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Vaccination is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, with health benefits for both the pregnant person and their baby. Several vaccines are routinely recommended during pregnancy, including COVID-19 vaccines.

People who are pregnant are at higher risk of experiencing severe outcomes from COVID-19, including:

• severe illness
• hospitalization
• admission to an intensive care unit
• invasive mechanical ventilation

Getting COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications, including:

• premature birth
• low birth weight
• infant admission to a neonatal intensive care unit

Evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps to prevent:

• COVID-19 infection
• the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 in infants under 6 months of age

Getting an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster dose, during any stage of pregnancy is safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps protect against serious outcomes for the person who is pregnant and their baby.

Vaccinated people can also pass antibodies to their baby through the placenta and through breastmilk.

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for people who are:

• planning a pregnancy
• at any stage of pregnancy
• breastfeeding

Learn more about:

• COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
• COVID-19: Vaccine safety and side effects
• COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth
• Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Vaccines for COVID-19: How to get vaccinated
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy
• Post COVID-19 condition
• Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals

Safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnant people can safely get vaccinated against COVID-19 at any time during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy comes from real-world data on outcomes for people vaccinated during pregnancy. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant or breastfeeding people around the world have safely received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Large studies found no increase in rates of:

• pregnancy loss
• preterm birth
• stillbirth

Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on fertility

COVID-19 vaccination is strongly recommended for people who are planning a pregnancy. Those intending to become pregnant don't need to delay pregnancy after vaccination with an mRNA vaccine.

Millions of people have received an mRNA vaccine in Canada and around the world. Data has shown no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems in women or men. This includes:

• no difference in:
  • pregnancy rates
  • ectopic pregnancies (pregnancy that develops outside the uterus)
  • miscarriages
  • ovarian function
  • number of fertilized embryos

Individual public health measures

Individual public health measures are actions you can take to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19. These include:

• staying home when sick
• wearing a well-fitted medical mask or respirator in public
• improving ventilation in enclosed spaces by opening windows, or using fans or air filtration systems
• maximizing physical distance from others

These individual public health measures are most effective when used alongside vaccination.

Learn more about:

• COVID-19: Individual public health measures
• Respiratory infectious diseases: Mask use for reducing the spread

Related links

• Vaccination and pregnancy (printable poster)
• Caring for Kids (Canadian Paediatric Society)
  • Vaccine safety: Canada's system
  • A parent's guide to immunization information on the Internet
• Vaccine safety and possible side effects
• Pregnancyinfo.ca
• A Parent's Guide to Vaccination
• Immunize Canada
• Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

For health care providers

• COVID-19 vaccine: Canadian Immunization Guide
• Immunization in pregnancy and breastfeeding: Canadian Immunization Guide
• Results of Survey on Vaccination during Pregnancy
• Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: Statement on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy