During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended taking that women should take care to reduce their risk of getting sick during pregnancy. As the pandemic progressed and further research was carried out, these recommendations were revised, as it was found that the overall risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low. However, it has been shown that maternal COVID-19 infection is associated with an approximately doubled risk of stillbirth and may be associated with an increased incidence of small-for-gestational age babies. It also has been suggested that the preterm birth rate in women with symptomatic COVID-19 appears to be two to three times higher than the background rate.
Maternal vaccinations during pregnancy have long been considered beneficial, stretching back to the late 1800s, when smallpox vaccinations in mothers appeared to confer a resistance advantage to infants. Other vaccinations, such as those against influenza, have also long been recommended for pregnant individuals. Recently, the current necessity of COVID vaccinations has led to heavy scrutiny as to whether these vaccines could lead to an increased risk of complications for pregnant women, whether there are any post-natal effects, and if there are any benefits imparted onto offspring.
In this Research Topic, we offer researchers the opportunity to share new ideas and advances relating to all aspects of Covid-19 infection and vaccination in the pre and post-natal period. We encourage the submission of manuscripts such as original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, clinical trials, case reports, perspectives, opinions, and study protocols relevant to this article collection.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended taking that women should take care to reduce their risk of getting sick during pregnancy. As the pandemic progressed and further research was carried out, these recommendations were revised, as it was found that the overall risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women is low. However, it has been shown that maternal COVID-19 infection is associated with an approximately doubled risk of stillbirth and may be associated with an increased incidence of small-for-gestational age babies. It also has been suggested that the preterm birth rate in women with symptomatic COVID-19 appears to be two to three times higher than the background rate.
Maternal vaccinations during pregnancy have long been considered beneficial, stretching back to the late 1800s, when smallpox vaccinations in mothers appeared to confer a resistance advantage to infants. Other vaccinations, such as those against influenza, have also long been recommended for pregnant individuals. Recently, the current necessity of COVID vaccinations has led to heavy scrutiny as to whether these vaccines could lead to an increased risk of complications for pregnant women, whether there are any post-natal effects, and if there are any benefits imparted onto offspring.
In this Research Topic, we offer researchers the opportunity to share new ideas and advances relating to all aspects of Covid-19 infection and vaccination in the pre and post-natal period. We encourage the submission of manuscripts such as original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, systematic reviews, clinical trials, case reports, perspectives, opinions, and study protocols relevant to this article collection.