Perinatal outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination

Abstract

Background: There is still more study to be done on how the COVID-19 vaccine affects perinatal outcomes in expectant mothers. This matched cohort research sought to learn more about the connection between the COVID-19 vaccine and perinatal outcomes, such as stillbirths and premature deliveries. Methods: A total of 1,200 pregnant women were included in the study, with 600 vaccinated and 600 unvaccinated participants at Hayat medical complex Peshawar. The primary outcomes assessed were stillbirths and preterm births. Secondary outcomes included low birth weight, NICU admission, respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal mortality. Data on maternal characteristics, COVID-19 infection history, and vaccination status were collected. Matched analysis using propensity score matching was performed to account for potential confounding factors. Results: In the total birth cohort, there were 4 stillbirths (0.67%) in the vaccinated group compared to 7 stillbirths (1.17%) in the unvaccinated group (odds ratio [OR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-1.92). Similarly, there were 40 preterm births (6.67%) in the vaccinated group compared to 50 preterm births (8.33%) in the unvaccinated group (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.47-1.27). The rates of low birth weight, NICU admission, respiratory distress syndrome, and neonatal mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups.