Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Information at your Fingertips

If you are currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the COVID-19 pandemic may be adding a layer of concern. You may have questions or understandable worries about the implications of a possible COVID-19 infection for you and your baby, the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, and the type of care that you will receive over the course of the pregnancy.  

Making sense of information from various sources can be difficult. We have curated up-to-date Canadian-based resources to support you through your pregnancy journey, and help you make decisions that will keep you and your baby healthy. We are updating the site as new and relevant information becomes available, so be sure to check back frequently. 

What is New?

• The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) strongly recommends masking in indoor public spaces and staying up-to-date with COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as eligible. Read their recent statement reaffirming the importance of layering protections as Ontario currently faces the triple threat of COVID-19, influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (November 15, 2022).

• Check out this interview with Dr. Deborah Money, a professor in UBC’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology:  "Bivalent vaccines are here – what it means for people who are pregnant" (November 7, 2022).

• Updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding has been published by National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) (September 9, 2022).

Should Pregnant People Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?

Real world evidence continues to show that vaccines are safe during pregnancy. There have been a number of large studies that looked at the safety and effectiveness of vaccines given to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in Ontario.  In one study, there was no increased risk of complications during late pregnancy or the early newborn period for those who got the COVID-19 vaccine compared with those who were not vaccinated. In another study, there was no link found between COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy and higher risk of preterm birth or stillbirth.  

All the major obstetrical organizations in Canada, the US, the UK and many other countries have recommended the vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding individuals to protect them from COVID-19. Nevertheless, deciding whether to have COVID-19 vaccination while you are pregnant can be challenging. The Provincial Council for Maternal and Child Health (PCMCH) has published a resource to help you make an informed choice. And below, care providers in Ontario are sharing a message with pregnant individuals in English, French and other languages: 

COVID-19 Resources for Pregnant People in Ontario

• Department of Family and Community Medicine (University of Toronto) and Ontario College of Family Physicians - Confused about COVID

• Pandemic Pregnancy Guide -  created by University of Toronto faculty members and trainees, as a means to support and answer the questions of pregnant individuals about COVID-19 through Instagram 

• National Advisory Committee on Immunization - Updated guidance on COVID-19 vaccines for individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Canadian Institute for Health Research - "Ask a Scientist: Will the COVID-19 vaccine affect my fertility?" 
• Hospital for Sick Children - COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service 
• British Society for Immunology - COVID-19 Vaccination In Pregnancy
• Provincial Council for Maternal And Child Health (PCMCH) - I am pregnant or breastfeeding. Should I get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
• Provincial Council for Maternal And Child Health (PCMCH) -  Let's Talk about COVID-19 and Pregnancy Webinar
• BORN Ontario - Summary of results from a study that used information from Ontario pregnancies - no increased risk of adverse outcomes during late pregnancy or the early newborn period was found for those individuals who received COVID-19 vaccination compared with those who were not vaccinated during pregnancy. 
  
• PregnancyInfo - COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy
• Ontario.ca - COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy
• Reproductive Infectious Diseases Program (The University of British Columbia) - Canadian Surveillance of COVID-19 in Pregnancy: Epidemiology, Maternal and Infant Outcomes 
• The University of British Columbia - Canadian COVID-19 Vaccine Registry for Pregnant and Lactating Individuals

What to Expect if You Are Pregnant during the Pandemic

• Prenatal Screening Ontario - COVID-19 and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
• Government of Canada - COVID-19: Pregnancy, childbirth and caring for a newborn

General Information on COVID-19

• Public Health Ontario - Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Public Health Ontario - Multilingual COVID-19 Resources (over 20 languages)
• Public Health Ontario - What You Need to Know About mRNA Vaccines
• Ministry of Health - COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario
• Centre for Effective Practice - COVID-19 Vaccines Patient Resources
• The Canadian National Vaccine Safety  (CANVAS) Network - Monitoring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada
• Vaccine Answers from Manitoba Doctors - Manitoba's Doctors answer common questions about COVID-19 vaccines, addressing safety, effectiveness, and misinformation.
• Black Scientists' Task Force on Vaccine Equity
• Alliance for Healthier Communities - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• #ScienceUpFirst - Together against misinformation

 COVID-19 Indigenous Resources

• Government of Canada - COVID-19 Vaccines and Indigenous Peoples
• Government of Canada - Awareness Resources and Videos
• University Health Network - First Nations, Inuit, Metis Perspectives and Knowledge Sharing on COVID-19 Vaccines
• Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority - COVID-19 Resources

Media Coverage of COVID-19 and Pregnancy

• Prenatal Screening Ontario - Media Coverage of COVID-19 and Pregnancy