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Bednarek A, Laskowska M. Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799. [PMID: 38229424 PMCID: PMC10802082 DOI: 10.12659/msm.942799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccinations are an essential element of public health programs around the world, which have a major impact on morbidity, mortality, and costs of the health care system. In recent years, with a better understanding of the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations, many recommendations have been developed for administering vaccines to adults. Countless physiological changes occur during pregnancy, including those affecting the immune system. Pregnant women are at increased risk of developing infections and resulting complications. According to research, vaccines are immunogenic and safe for pregnant women. Pregnancy is not an absolute contraindication to vaccination. After administration of vaccines to pregnant women, the concentration of antibodies increases, which can be transferred to the child in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and provide protection in the first months of life. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) unanimously recommend vaccination of pregnant women if a safe vaccine is available and there is a risk of exposure of the woman to a disease that threatens herself or her developing baby. In everyday clinical practice, medical professionals should provide their patients with the necessary information on vaccinations, which may contribute to greater awareness and implementation of vaccinations. This article aims to review current global recommendations for the vaccination of pregnant and breastfeeding women, including against the Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bednarek
- Department of Health Promotion, Chair of Nursing Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Marzena Laskowska
- Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Triunfo S, Perossini S, Burdin E, De Angeli EC, Francesi M, Garolfi A, Moretti J, Paruscio I, Tassielli M, Tremolada M, Gemelli S, Pedrina D, Marconi AM. Increasing Vaccine Uptake during Pregnancy by Using Prenatal Education Classes: An Effective Tool for Health Communication and Promotion. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1466. [PMID: 37761427 PMCID: PMC10529209 DOI: 10.3390/children10091466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Childbirth education classes represent an antenatal tool for supporting pregnant women and couples in increasing knowledge on pregnancy, delivery, breastfeeding, and newborn care. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an additional lesson during the prenatal course regarding the advantage of vaccination to mitigation of maternal anxiety. An observational study was designed that included participants in childbirth education classes and compared courses enhanced by the extra lesson on vaccination during pregnancy versus those who did not receive it. Assessment of the impact of prenatal educational on vaccination was measured by using validated questionnaires (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI; Perceived Stress Scale, PSS; World Health Organization- Five Well-Being Index, WHO-5). A total of 145 pregnant women participated to the investigation by answering to the online survey. Of them, 33 patients (22.8%) belonged to the course without a lesson on vaccine, while 112 (77.2%) participated to online prenatal education that included an additional meeting on the usefulness of getting vaccinated during pregnancy. No statistical differences were found between study groups in terms of demographics and perinatal outcomes. Participants in the enriched course reported lower basal anxiety levels than those without the vaccine lesson (STAI-State, normal score < 40, 30 vs. 19%, p-value 0.041; STAI-State, mild score 40-50, 78 vs. 67%, p-value 0.037). With reference to the prior two weeks, maternal wellbeing level was improved by the added class (score > 13 as measurement of wellbeing: 62% vs. 80%, p-value < 0.05). Moderate perceived stress assessed by PSS was found in those pregnant women without prenatal education on vaccination (64 vs. 50%, p-value 0.042). The introduction of a lesson regarding vaccination during pregnancy in the program of prenatal education courses improved maternal anxiety levels and wellbeing, in addition to reducing perceived stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Triunfo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, S. Paolo University Hospital, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy; (S.P.); (E.B.); (E.C.D.A.); (M.F.); (A.G.); (J.M.); (I.P.); (M.T.); (M.T.); (S.G.); (D.P.); (A.M.M.)
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Satorres-Pérez E, Martínez-Varea A, Morales-Roselló J. COVID-19 Vaccines and Assisted Reproductive Techniques: A Systematic Review. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1232. [PMID: 37623482 PMCID: PMC10455825 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13081232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To review the current knowledge concerning COVID-19 vaccination and assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Methods: A systematic review in Pubmed-Medline, the Cochrane Database, the Web of Science, and the National Guideline was performed. Studies were selected if they were primary studies, included vaccinated (case) and unvaccinated (control) patients, and described fertility treatment response. Results: A total of 24 studies were selected. Outcomes related to the association between COVID-19 vaccination and ART were collected. The vast majority of studies found no statistical differences concerning oocyte stimulation response, embryo quality, implantation rates, or pregnancy outcome (clinical or biochemical pregnancy rates and losses) when comparing cases and controls. Similarly, no differences were found when comparing different types of vaccines or distinct ART (artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer of frozen embryos). Conclusions: Patients receiving ART and health care professionals should be encouraged to complete and recommend COVID-19 vaccination, as the available evidence regarding assisted reproductive outcomes is reassuring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alicia Martínez-Varea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (E.S.-P.); (J.M.-R.)
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Sotoodeh Ghorbani S, Taherpour N, Rahimi E, Farhadi Babadi K, Feyzi R, Hashemi Nazari SS. Effectiveness, Immunogenicity and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnant Women: A Rapid Review Study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2023; 37:72. [PMID: 37600627 PMCID: PMC10436674 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.37.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pregnant women infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, and the only real preventive strategy against COVID-19 is mass vaccination. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness, immunogenicity, and safety of Covid-19 vaccination in pregnant women. Methods A combination of search terms was performed by 2 researchers independently in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases, the World Health Organization website, and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website up to February 2022. After the selection of eligible studies, the review process, description, and summarization of the selected studies were performed by the research team. Results Finally, 22 articles were included in this study. Evidence supports the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. There is no risk of transmitting COVID-19 to infants during lactation. In addition, antibodies made by vaccination can protect infants through breast milk. Conclusion The scientific community believes that being vaccinated as soon as possible is the best course of action because there is no evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine poses a risk to expectant or nursing women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Sotoodeh Ghorbani
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloufar Taherpour
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Rahimi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kosar Farhadi Babadi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvan Feyzi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Saeed Hashemi Nazari
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Research Center, Shahid Beheshti
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Charuta A, Smuniewska M, Woźniak Z, Paziewska A. Effect of COVID-19 on Pregnancy and Neonate's Vital Parameters: A Systematic Review. J Pregnancy 2023; 2023:3015072. [PMID: 37215313 PMCID: PMC10199793 DOI: 10.1155/2023/3015072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 is a new pandemic, which was declared by the World Health Organization in 2019 as a threat to public health. According to numerous reports, it can have negative consequences for pregnant women, labour, and neonates born to infected mothers. The aim of this paper was to gather the evidence and to present a summary of the results of studies concerning COVID-19 in pregnant women and their neonates. Methods Articles from prestigious journals covering the period from 2020 to February 2023, relevant review papers, and original research articles from PubMed were analysed. In order to analyse the available research literature, the Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases were used, in which the search for articles was conducted using terms ("pregnancy," "coronavirus," "SARS-CoV-2," and "newborn") and using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines for clinical trials. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews (2022-2023) on symptoms, neonatal course, and risk of COVID-19 infection have been summarized. Summary of meta-analyses and systematic reviews (2022-2023) on the effect and adverse reaction of the COVID-19 vaccination is presented. Results As a result of the research conducted, it was confirmed that in most pregnant women, no serious signs of the infection were observed, although isolated cases of death related to COVID-19 in pregnant women were reported. Several authors called attention to the more severe course of the infection in pregnant women with obesity. It seemed that no vertical transmission from mother to child was occurring. Nevertheless, the information was not clinching. The condition of the neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 was in most cases described as normal; however, some papers reported deaths of infected neonates. Conclusions Due to insufficient data, further research is necessary. Further studies and follow-up are recommended, which would make possible an assessment of remote effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy and vital parameters of the newborn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Charuta
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Poland
| | - Monika Smuniewska
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Mazowiecki Provincial Hospital in Siedlce Named after Saint John Paul II in Siedlce, Poland
| | - Zofia Woźniak
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Independent Public Health Care Center in Sokołów Podlaski, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Paziewska
- Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Institute of Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Poland
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Juliá-Burchés C, Martínez-Varea A. An Update on COVID-19 Vaccination and Pregnancy. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13050797. [PMID: 37240967 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13050797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women are more prone to experience severe COVID-19 disease, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission, use of invasive ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and mortality compared to non-pregnant individuals. Additionally, research suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, and stillbirth, as well as adverse neonatal outcomes, including hospitalization and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. This review assessed the available literature from November 2021 to 19 March 2023, concerning the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccination administered during pregnancy is not linked to significant adverse events related to the vaccine or negative obstetric, fetal, or neonatal outcomes. Moreover, the vaccine has the same effectiveness in preventing severe COVID-19 disease in pregnant individuals as in the general population. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccination is the safest and most effective method for pregnant women to protect themselves and their newborns from severe COVID-19 disease, hospitalization, and ICU admission. Thus, vaccination should be recommended for pregnant patients. While the immunogenicity of vaccination in pregnancy appears to be similar to that in the general population, more research is needed to determine the optimal timing of vaccination during pregnancy for the benefit of the neonate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Juliá-Burchés
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Alicia Martínez-Varea
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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Severe COVID-19 Infection during Pregnancy Requiring ECMO: Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020263. [PMID: 36836497 PMCID: PMC9961195 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of developing severe COVID-19 that requires admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive ventilation is increased in pregnant women. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been successfully used to manage critical pregnant and peripartum patients. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old patient, unvaccinated for COVID-19, presented to a tertiary hospital in January 2021 at 23 weeks of gestation due to respiratory distress, cough, and fever. The patient had a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 with a PCR test in a private center 48 h before. She required admission into the ICU due to respiratory failure. High-flow nasal oxygen therapy, intermittent noninvasive mechanical ventilation (BiPAP), mechanical ventilation, prone positioning, and nitric oxide therapy were administered. Additionally, hypoxemic respiratory failure was diagnosed. Thus, circulatory assistance using ECMO with venovenous access was performed. After 33 days of ICU admission, the patient was transferred to the internal medicine department. She was discharged 45 days after hospital admission. At 37 weeks of gestation, the patient presented active labor and underwent an uneventful vaginal delivery. CONCLUSIONS Severe COVID-19 in pregnancy may lead to the requirement for ECMO administration. This therapy should be administered in specialized hospitals using a multidisciplinary approach. COVID-19 vaccination should be strongly recommended to pregnant women to decrease the risk of severe COVID-19.
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