March of Dimes is deeply concerned by the recent announcement from US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., proposing to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the recommended immunization schedule for pregnant people. This decision sends a dangerous message that could undermine trust in public health at a time when far too many moms and babies remain at serious risk. As the leading nonprofit fighting for the health of all moms and babies, we strongly believe that medical guidance must be grounded in science.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on pregnant women and their babies. In 2021, 1,205 women died from pregnancy-related causes, reflecting an 89% increase in the maternal mortality rate since 2018, with rates 2.6 times higher for Black woman than for White women. Many of these deaths occurred before pregnant people had access to the COVID-19 vaccine, at a time when the virus was particularly dangerous and treatment options were limited. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that pregnant people infected with COVID-19 are more likely to be hospitalized, placed on ventilators, or die due to complications. And the consequences extend to babies, who are more likely to be born preterm or stillborn when their mothers become seriously ill with COVID.
The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most effective tools we have to protect pregnant people and their babies from severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Since the vaccines became available, leading medical organizations—including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM)—have strongly recommended COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy as part of routine maternal care. ACOG’s most recent guidance reinforces that vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications while also helping to protect newborns through passive immunity.
“COVID-19’s impact on pregnancy is deeply personal to me,” said Dr. Amanda Williams, interim Chief Medical Officer at March of Dimes. “During the height of the pandemic, I cared for a healthy patient who was 32 weeks pregnant and tragically died from COVID-19 despite state-of-the-art medical care. One of her last words was that she wished she had taken the vaccine. This loss was not only a personal tragedy, but a clinical reminder of the severe risks COVID-19 poses to pregnant people, especially in communities of color. As a Black woman and physician, I deeply understand the mistrust many feel toward the health system. But the science is clear and has not changed. Pregnant people are at higher risk for severe illness and complications from COVID-19, and vaccination significantly reduces these risks. This underscores the importance of combining compassionate and patient-centered care with evidence-based recommendations to protect both moms and babies.”
March of Dimes is committed to ensuring every mom and baby has access to trusted, evidence-based information. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and how to protect your health and your baby’s, visit marchofdimes.org/covid.