Pregnancy is a time of joy, anticipation, and heightened vulnerability—especially when it comes to health risks like COVID-19. But here’s the eye-opening truth: pregnant individuals who received the COVID-19 vaccine were significantly less likely to face severe illness or deliver their babies prematurely. This isn’t just a small finding—it’s a game-changer backed by a groundbreaking UBC-led study published in JAMA, one of the most respected medical journals in the world.
Drawing on data from nearly 20,000 pregnancies across Canada, the research reveals a powerful connection between vaccination and reduced risks of hospitalization, intensive care admission, and preterm birth. And this is the part most people miss: these benefits held strong even as the virus evolved from the Delta variant to Omicron and its newer sublineages, which still dominate today. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite this overwhelming evidence, some jurisdictions—like the U.S.—haven’t explicitly recommended COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy in their latest guidelines. Why the hesitation? And what does this mean for expecting parents?
Dr. Deborah Money, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UBC and senior author of the study, puts it plainly: “Our findings provide clear, population-level evidence that COVID-19 vaccination protects pregnant people and their babies from serious complications. Even as the virus evolved, vaccination continued to offer substantial benefits for both mother and child.”
The study, conducted by the national CANCOVID-Preg surveillance network, is one of the largest of its kind globally. It found that vaccinated individuals were about 60% less likely to be hospitalized and a staggering 90% less likely to require intensive care compared to those unvaccinated at the time of infection. Vaccination also slashed the risk of preterm birth (before 37 weeks) by 20% during the Delta wave and 36% during the Omicron wave. Here’s the surprising twist: those vaccinated during pregnancy, rather than before, saw even lower rates of preterm birth and stillbirth. So, does timing matter more than we thought?
Dr. Elisabeth McClymont, lead author and assistant professor at UBC, emphasizes, “There is never a bad time to be vaccinated—whether you're currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy. But our data suggest there may be added benefits to receiving the vaccine during pregnancy.” This raises a thought-provoking question: Should we reconsider when and how we vaccinate expecting parents?
These findings come at a critical time, as vaccine guidance for pregnant individuals varies widely. While Canada and the World Health Organization strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has yet to include a specific recommendation in its adult immunization schedule. Is this a missed opportunity to protect vulnerable populations?
Beyond COVID-19, the study highlights a broader issue: the need to include pregnant people in vaccine research and planning for future respiratory virus outbreaks. “Pregnancy is a unique period of vulnerability but also of opportunity for prevention,” says Dr. McClymont. “This study reinforces how vaccination can make a real difference for maternal and newborn health.”
Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the BC Women’s Health Foundation, this pan-Canadian effort analyzed data from nine provinces and one territory, tracking outcomes from nearly 20,000 pregnancies affected by SARS-CoV-2 between April 2021 and December 2022. Even after adjusting for factors like age, body mass index, and pre-existing conditions, vaccination remained linked to markedly lower risks of hospitalization.
So, where do we go from here? Dr. Money sums it up: “The body of evidence is overwhelmingly clear: COVID-19 vaccination is safe and effective in pregnancy. These latest findings provide critical information for pregnant women and their care providers and strongly support public health guidance that recommends vaccination during pregnancy.”
But we want to hear from you: Do you think COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy should be universally recommended? Or are there valid concerns that need addressing? Let’s start a conversation—because when it comes to protecting mothers and babies, every voice matters.
