You probably already know how critical it is for pregnant women to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Pregnant women are at increased risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19, including needing to be admitted to intensive care, requiring a ventilator and even dying.[1]
Having COVID-19 during pregnancy also raises the risk for preterm birth and other complications, including pregnancy loss.
Vaccination is the most effective form of protection against COVID-19, and leading experts say the vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as anyone who hopes to get pregnant in the future.[2]
However, many pregnant women still have not gotten their shots, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a statement recommending "urgent action" to increase COVID-19 vaccination among moms-to-be.
In addition to strongly urging all pregnant women to get their initial COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC and other major medical organizations also recommend that everyone ages 5 and older who have already been immunized get a booster shot.
Here's what you need to know about rolling up your sleeves for a COVID-19 booster:
Can you get a COVID-19 booster shot if you're pregnant?
Yes, moms-to-be are eligible and encouraged to get a COVID-19 booster vaccine.
The CDC’s latest guidelines depend on which vaccine you've received:[3]
- Pfizer-BioNtech: Five months after completing the primary vaccination series.
- Moderna: Five months after completing the primary vaccination series.
- Johnson & Johnson: Two months after receiving the vaccination.
The CDC has also authorized the Novavax vaccine for use in people aged 12 and older. However, it’s not currently authorized as a booster shot.
Regardless of which vaccine you got initially, the CDC recommends an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster shot (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) over the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in most situations. However, if you will only get a booster shot if you’re able to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or had a severe reaction to an mRNA vaccine in the past, the CDC says the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may be used as a booster shot.
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Experts note that it's also critical to get your flu shot during pregnancy.[4] Pregnant patients should know that they can receive their flu and COVID-19 vaccines (either initial dose or booster) on the same day or within the same period.
Can pregnant women get the new Omicron booster?
The latest COVID-19 boosters target the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, and had to go through the same vetting process as other COVID-19 vaccines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the new boosters made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech,[5] and they were then recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and CDC director Rochelle Walensky, M.D.[6]
“The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to better protect against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variant,” Dr. Walensky said in a press release. “They can help restore protection that has waned since previous vaccination and were designed to provide broader protection against newer variants. This recommendation followed a comprehensive scientific evaluation and robust scientific discussion. If you are eligible, there is no bad time to get your COVID-19 booster and I strongly encourage you to receive it.”
The CDC didn’t use specific language for pregnant women but “nothing changes with the recommendations,” says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. “The safety data for the booster is really based on our prior experience, where there have been billions of shots in arms with the mRNA vaccine,” he says. “The benefits to pregnant women are significant.”
While there is “no specific safety data yet” for the new Omicron-specific formulation that’s different from the previous vaccine, Dr. Russo says “there isn’t anticipated to be a change.” He adds, “at the end of the day, all that’s changing is the code. The safety profile should be outstanding.”
When should pregnant women get their booster shots?
Current recommendations from the CDC about boosters still stand. “Pregnant women should get their booster shots as soon as they are eligible,” says Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Dr. Russo agrees that you should get your booster shot “whenever it’s due,” but notes there may be a timing issue with the Omicron booster if you recently had a booster shot. (The CDC hasn’t specified this yet.)
“If you just received your first booster a month or two ago, it’s possible the CDC will recommend spreading the booster out four to five months apart,” Dr. Russo says.
Why is it so important to get a COVID-19 booster shot if you're eligible?
The best way to protect yourself and your unborn baby from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated. That’s why the CDC, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) all strongly recommend that those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant get immunized against COVID-19.[7]
Vaccines help the body build up immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19, so if you face the actual virus in the future, your body will know how to fight it off more effectively. If you're vaccinated, not only are you much less likely to develop COVID-19, but you're more likely to experience mild symptoms from a breakthrough infection.
What's more, a booster shot may also help protect your newborn from COVID-19 during the first months of life. Some research has found that the antibodies made after pregnant women received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine were also found in their breast milk, and a large Norweigan study published in June 2022 found that newborns were less likely to test positive for COVID-19 if their mothers were vaccinated while pregnant.[8]
However, as with all vaccinations, protection from the COVID-19 vaccine may start to lessen over time. That’s why the CDC approved a booster shot for all adults, including pregnant women.
Not only will the booster give you added protection during pregnancy, it may help keep you safer in the early postpartum period. Pregnant women remain at higher risk for complications for at least 42 days after giving birth, the CDC notes.
What's more, emerging research shows that babies may benefit from protective antibodies from their vaccinated moms in utero that could extend after birth.[9] So a booster shot doesn't just keep you and baby safe while you're pregnant — it could also offer additional benefits for your little one after she's born.
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