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In texts, Fauci discussed potential risks, benefits of COVID vaccine for pregnant women

From CBS News · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Newly released text messages show Dr. Anthony Fauci and other health officials discussing COVID-19 vaccine risks for pregnant women in early 2021.
  • The messages reveal discussions about weighing potential risks against benefits, particularly concerning early pregnancy.
  • At the time, data on pregnant women receiving vaccines was limited, though subsequent studies found no increased risks.

A set of early 2021 text messages involving Dr. Anthony Fauci and other federal health officials has been released, shedding light on their discussions regarding the COVID-19 vaccine's suitability for pregnant women. The messages, recovered from Fauci's government phone, show officials grappling with how to "weigh the potential risks against the benefits" of vaccination for this group.

weigh the potential risks against the benefits

— Dr. Anthony FauciDiscussing the approach to vaccinating pregnant women against COVID-19.

The exchange, which occurred shortly after the rollout of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, involved then-Surgeon General nominee Dr. Vivek Murthy and then-CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. Murthy inquired about the optimal timing for vaccinating pregnant women. Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted a lack of data suggesting a preference for vaccinating early versus later in pregnancy. He also mentioned theoretical concerns about fevers or cytokine storms following the second vaccine dose potentially being linked to first-trimester miscarriages.

there is no data or theoretical reason to believe that vaccinating early versus later in pregnancy would be preferred

— Dr. Anthony FauciResponding to a question about the timing of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women.

Walensky highlighted the CDC's use of the "V-safe" monitoring system to track vaccine side effects in populations not included in initial trials, such as pregnant women. Fauci acknowledged that in situations with limited data for pregnant women, a careful assessment of risks versus benefits is necessary, especially given that COVID-19 can be a serious illness during pregnancy. He also pointed out that over 10,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated without reported issues at that time.

in any vaccine in which data are lacking in pregnant women one must weigh the potential risks against the benefits

— Dr. Anthony FauciElaborating on the considerations for vaccinating pregnant individuals.

These discussions took place before extensive studies confirmed the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant individuals. Subsequent research, including data from over a million vaccinated pregnant women, has found no increased risk of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications. The CDC now explicitly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women based on this accumulating evidence.

COVID-19 can be a serious disease especially in pregnancy

— Dr. Anthony FauciHighlighting the risks of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy.
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Originally published by CBS News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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