McMaster University, A comprehensive study involving over 28,000 pregnancies has revealed that a significant majority of pregnant individuals received the COVID-19 vaccine during its initial rollout. Conducted by researchers from McMaster University and the University of British Columbia, the study utilized data from ICES, an independent, not-for-profit research institute, to assess vaccination rates among this vulnerable population.
Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on October 1, 2024, the research found that approximately 79% (22,581) of individuals who gave birth in Ontario during the first three months of 2022 received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 75% (21,425) had received a second dose by the time they reached three months postpartum. Notably, half of those vaccinated had received their first dose before becoming pregnant, and only 4% delayed vaccination until after childbirth. This high uptake rate is particularly significant given the potential health risks associated with COVID-19 during pregnancy.
Meredith Vanstone, an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University, expressed optimism regarding these findings. “It’s encouraging to see this level of vaccination among pregnant individuals because COVID-19 outcomes can be so severe during pregnancy. This feels like a public health victory, as people were able to access the information they needed to make informed vaccination decisions from trusted public health sources and clinicians, such as their family doctors.”
Despite the overall high vaccination rates, the study indicated that pregnant individuals were slightly less likely to receive the vaccine compared to non-pregnant women of the same age. Among non-pregnant females in Ontario, 83% received an initial dose and 80.5% received a second dose during the same timeframe. Additionally, the research highlighted that vaccine uptake was lower among younger pregnant individuals.
Devon Greyson, the study’s first author and an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health, noted the challenges posed by misinformation about vaccines targeting pregnant individuals. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation complicated pregnant people’s ability to make well-informed decisions about their health. Despite these challenges, it is reassuring to see that so many were able to navigate the confusion and ultimately make choices that protected their health and the health of their babies.”
The researchers accessed a provincial dataset containing de-identified COVID-19 vaccine records to conduct their analysis. “We linked information about individuals who gave birth during our study period with their healthcare service use to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine uptake, such as geographical location and whether it was their first childbirth. This comprehensive data access strengthens our confidence in the findings,” explained Rebecca Correia, a PhD student at McMaster University who coordinated the data access and analysis.
The study received funding from several sources, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Canada Research Chairs program, a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award, and a CIHR/Public Health Agency of Canada Applied Public Health Chair.
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