Prime Highlights:
No link between COVID-19 infection or vaccination during pregnancy and developmental delays in children, according to a large-scale study from Scotland.
The study included nearly 25,000 babies born in Scotland in 2020 and 2021, and monitored their development at 13-15 months of age.
Key Background:
A new large-scale study conducted in Scotland has found no evidence that COVID-19 infection or vaccination during pregnancy is linked to developmental problems in children. Published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, the study is the most comprehensive research on this topic to date, following the development of nearly 25,000 babies born in Scotland in 2020 and 2021.
The study aimed to investigate concerns that COVID-19 vaccination or infection during pregnancy could lead to speech, language, cognitive, emotional, or physical developmental delays in children. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh monitored the children’s development at 13 to 15 months of age, ensuring that any potential delays were identified. Despite previous studies from Switzerland and the U.S. offering reassurance, this new research provides further validation of the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and their babies.
The study revealed that there was no link between maternal vaccination or infection and developmental concerns, regardless of the trimester during which vaccination or infection occurred. This finding is particularly important given that initial vaccine trials did not include pregnant women, causing some uncertainty around vaccine safety. The results should provide additional confidence for parents making decisions about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy.
Further, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has previously stated that COVID-19 vaccines do not increase the risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage or premature birth. However, the agency emphasizes that pregnant women who contract COVID-19 are at an elevated risk of severe illness, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy.
The study’s senior author, Dr. Bonnie Auyeung, expressed hope that these findings would alleviate concerns and support informed decision-making for parents considering vaccination during pregnancy. While developmental issues may become more apparent as children grow older, the researchers plan to continue monitoring these families to assess any long-term impacts. For now, the findings strongly indicate that vaccination during pregnancy does not result in developmental delays.
