A personal experience of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy
Authors: None Priyanka, Om Prakash Choudhary
Journal: International Journal of Surgery (2021)

Dear Editor Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may result in the rapid deterioration of health during pregnancy and can also affect the developing fetus. The global vaccination drive is in full swing with the universal aim to mitigate the subsequent waves and decrease the case fatality rate of COVID-19. There are 108 vaccines under clinical development in the various phases of evaluation status and 184 vaccines in pre-clinical development [1]. While going through the scientific literature on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, we found that many scientists/researchers have given their opinions based on their scientific knowledge and research findings. However, there are no personal experiences in the available literature regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Hence, the aim of this correspondence article is to share the personal experience of getting immunized against the COVID-19 in pregnancy and its safety and reliability. COVID-19 has badly hit the entire world, causing high morbidity and mortality. In India, the second wave of COVID-19 has gravely affected the whole nation, and the reason behind it is supposed to be the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 delta variant. Through this article, we are happy to share our personal experience regarding the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. The journey of prenatal development started in March 2021 at a time when the COVID-19 second wave had begun in India and was accelerating towards its peak. Simultaneously, the research on the COVID-19 risk and vaccination in the pregnancy was also ongoing, parallel to the several rumors which were rolling on social media. This is not the first time that unfounded rumors about vaccines causing infertility have circulated widely. In 2003, such concerns resulted in a boycott of polio vaccination in northern Nigeria; more recently, they have contributed to hesitance in accepting the human papillomavirus vaccine [2]. Hence initially, we were skeptical about getting vaccinated against COVID-19; however, as per our doctor’s (OB-GYN) consultation, the first author received the influenza vaccine as it has been found to be associated with decreased COVID-19 susceptibility and severity [3]. In a recent study, it was found that only 28.7% (approximately one-third) of pregnant women eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine had accepted it during pregnancy in the UK [4]. The nationwide COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women in India was initiated on July 2, 2021 as per the approval of the Union Health Ministry based on the recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The Health Ministry of India has also released operational guidance for the COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant women mentioning the experts’ view that the benefits of vaccination to pregnant women outweigh its unlikely and undescribed potential risks (MoHFW, https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/OperationalGuidanceforCOVID19vaccinationofPregnantWoman.pdf). Following a counseling session on the risks of COVID-19 on the health of mother and fetus, benefits of vaccination, potential side-effects and precautions to be taken following vaccination, the first author was inoculated with the Covishield vaccine (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; Oxford-AstraZeneca; manufactured by Serum Institute of India) on July 23, 2021 at the Synod hospital located in the Aizawl city of the Mizoram state of India. She was kept under observation for 30 minutes and then sent home with the instruction to report immediately in case of any adverse events following immunization (AEFI). She came home and followed her daily routine as usual. No side effects were observed apart from the mild fever and slight pain at the inoculation site. Her next dose was scheduled between October 15 and November 12, 2021. The day before her second dose, we planned to narrate our experience regarding COVID-19 vaccination to make others aware of the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and bust the prevalent myths so that all the pregnant women may get their shot and acquire protective immunity against COVID-19. Finally, the second dose of Covishield was administered on October 15, 2021, when this correspondence was updated and submitted for publication. Even after the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, no major side effects were observed other than the slight pain at the inoculation site. An encouragement message has also been posted by CDC that all pregnant women or those who are thinking about becoming pregnant, as well as those who are breastfeeding, should get vaccinated to protect themselves from COVID-19 (CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html). The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnant women, and it has never been more urgent to increase vaccinations as we all are facing the highly transmissible delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, which can cause severe COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant women. This is particularly important due to the recent data showing that pregnant people are at increased risk of complications from COVID-19, and as the more contagious delta variant of the virus circulates in our population, the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher. Pregnant patients with COVID-19 are more likely to need intensive care, it is more likely that the doctors would elect to deliver their babies early, and their babies are also more likely to be admitted to the neonatal unit [5]. In conclusion, the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and highly recommended in pregnancy. Vaccination is the best way to protect the mother and fetus against the known risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy, including admission of the woman to the intensive care unit and premature birth of the baby. From our personal experience, we would suggest all the expecting women to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, please consult your doctor/physician before getting inoculated with the COVID-19 vaccine, as the reaction of each and everybody to the natural infection, as well as vaccination, may differ from person to person. Provenance and peer review Not commissioned, internally peer-reviewed. Ethical approval This article does not require any human/animal subjects to acquire such approval. Sources of funding This study received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Author contribution Priyanka: Conceptualization, Data Curation, Visualization, Writing - Original Draft, Writing - review & editing. Om Prakash Choudhary: Writing - Original Draft, Writing - review & editing. Both authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript. Research registration Unique Identifying number (UIN) Name of the registry: Not applicable. Unique Identifying number or registration ID: Not applicable. Hyperlink to your specific registration (must be publicly accessible and will be checked): Not applicable. Guarantor Om Prakash Choudhary, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Histology, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (I), Selesih, Aizawl-796015, Mizoram, India. Declaration of competing interest All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank Dr. Remmawia Khiangte, obstetrician-gynaecologist (OB-GYN), Synod Hospital, Aizawl, Mizoram for his valuable suggestions and guidance regarding vaccination against COVID-19 in pregnancy.