Review Article

Effect of COVID-19 on Pregnancy and Neonate’s Vital Parameters: A Systematic Review

Table 2

Summary of the meta-analyses and systematic reviews (2022–2023) concerning the effects and adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination.

Year of study/the country of studyAuthorsNumber of studies/pregnant women/childrenPublication aimResultsAdverse effects

2022/UKPrasad et al. [30]23 studies
117,552 COVID-19-vaccinated pregnant women.
Assessment of the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy.(1) Effectiveness (89.5%) of mRNA vaccination
(2) Reduction in stillbirth (the risk significantly lower by 15% mRNA vaccination in pregnancy appears to be safe).
No evidence of a higher risk of adverse outcomes (miscarriage, earlier gestation at birth, placental abruption, pulmonary embolism, postpartum hemorrhage, maternal death, intensive care unit admission, lower birthweight).

2022/USARawal et al. [31]32 studies
Pfizer, Moderna (24)
Janssen (6).
Assessment of safety, immunogenicity, effectiveness, acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant people in the United States.11 examined COVID-19 vaccine safety, 10 investigated immunogenicity and effectiveness, 11 assessed vaccine acceptance among pregnant people
COVID-19 vaccination, pregnant women with a robust immune response, and vaccinations conferred protective immunity to newborns through breast milk and placental transfer.
Injection-site pain and fatigue are the most common adverse events
One case study showed immune thrombocytopenia
COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of adverse pregnancy or neonatal outcomes.

2022/SpainNovillo and Martínez-Varea [32]33 studiesStudying the role of/provide an update regarding COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, breastfeeding.Reduction of the risk of severe COVID-19 in pregnant women after COVID-19 vaccination
Induction artificial active immunogenicity in the mother and natural passive immunogenicity in the child
Breastmilk straddles both immediate antibody-mediated and long-lived cellular-mediated immune protection
Neonatal benefits
Vaccination associated with a larger and more stable immunoglobulin G response
COVID-19 infection associated with a rapid and long-lasting immunoglobulin A response
Strong recommendation of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant and breastfeeding populations to protect mothers and newborns.
Main adverse effect (pain at the injection site, as in the general population)
Adverse effects more frequent after the second dose, slightly more frequent after the Moderna vaccine.

2022/ItalyUmberto De Rose et al. [33]45 studies
74,908 pregnant vaccinated women/5098 lactating women.
Assessment of the current knowledge about maternal and neonatal outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Estimation of how many pregnant and lactating women were vaccinated and with maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Recommendation for vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 virus for pregnant women
Infants received specific SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after maternal vaccination
Still limited evidence that fever during the first months of gestation increases the possibility of congenital anomalies, should be carefully counseled
The same considerations apply to breastfeeding women, also considering the immune responses that mRNA vaccines can generate in their human milk.
No major side effects especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

2022/NorwayMagnus et al. [34]157,521 singleton births (103,409 Sweden
54,112 Norway), 157,521 singleton pregnancies.
Estimation of the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy identification of exposure and background characteristics
mRNA vaccines: BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), one vaccine-AZD1222 (AstraZeneca).
The risk of preterm birth and stillbirth was evaluated
The risk of being small for gestational age, low Apgar score, and neonatal care admission was evaluated using logistic regression
The mean maternal age at the time of delivery was 31 years, and 28,506 (18%) were vaccinated (12.9% BNT162b2, 4.8% mRNA-1273, and 0.3% AZD1222) while pregnant
First (0.7%), second (8.3%), and third trimesters (9.1%) of individuals delivering
Vaccination not significantly associated with increased risk of preterm birth (6.2 vs. 4.9 per 10,000 pregnancy days; aHR, 0.98)
Stillbirth (2.1 vs. 2.4 per 100,000 pregnancy days; aHR, 0.86)
Small for gestational age (7.8% vs. 8.5%; difference, -0.6%; aOR, 0.97), low Apgar score (1.5% vs. 1.6%; difference, -0.05%; aOR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.87 to 1.08)
Neonatal care admission (8.5% vs. 8.5%; difference, 0.003%; aOR, 0.97)
In Sweden/Norway, vaccination during pregnancy, compared with no SARS-CoV-2 vaccination during pregnancy, was not significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes
The majority of the mRNA vaccines during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

2022/IndiaKrishna et al. [35]Evaluation of the safety and probable outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women.COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women not associated with significant health risks, increased adverse effects, or complications to the mother, developing foetus, or newborn compared to nonvaccinated pregnant women
Vaccinated pregnant women showed a robust immune response against COVID-19 infection.

2023/IranShafiee et al. [36]11 studies
756,098 pregnant women
Evaluation of the outcomes of women who received the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.SARS-CoV-2 exposure during pregnancy related to adverse effects for both the mother and the infant
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination lowered the risk of symptomatic disease
The rate of neonates with 5 min Apgar score ≤ 7
Pregnant mothers with preterm birth significantly lower among vaccinated groups
No evident differences observed among vaccinated pregnant mothers.
COVID-19 vaccination not associated with adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.

2022/EgyptHagrass et al. [37]13 studies
56,428 patients
Assessment of the maternal and neonatal safety of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy.No statistically significant difference of SAR-CoV-2 vaccination on the risk of outcomes: miscarriage, length of maternal hospitalisation, puerperal fever postpartum hemorrhage, instrumental or vacuum-assisted delivery incidence of at 5 min, birth weight.

2023/ChinaDing et al. [38]42 studies of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy
96,384 (73.9%) BNT162b2, 30,889 (23.7%) mRNA-1273, 3172 (2.4%) other types
23,721 (18.3%) first trimester, 52,778 (40.5%) second trimester, 53,886 (41.2%) third trimester.
Evaluation of the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during evaluation of the association of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.Reduced risks of stillbirth or neonatal death COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy not associated with congenital anomalies, preterm birth, NICU admission, or hospitalisation with an Apgar score at 5 min < low birth weight miscarriage, caesarean delivery, or postpartum hemorrhage.COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy not associated with any of the adverse neonatal or maternal outcomes.

2023/GreeceKontovazainitis et al. [39]2947 studies
7 cohort studies
67,274 pregnant women.
Assessment of COVID-19 vaccination’s efficacy and safety during pregnancy; comparison of the incidence of major maternal and neonatal outcomes between SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated and SARS-CoV-2-unvaccinated pregnant women.Reduction by 43% of the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections among vaccinated pregnant women
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnant women effective and safe.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines not associated with major maternal and neonatal adverse events.