Pregnant and breastfeeding women’s attitudes and fears regarding the COVID-19 vaccination

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 306; no. 2; pp. 365 - 372
• Main Authors: Schaal, Nora K., Zöllkau, Janine, Hepp, Philip, Fehm, Tanja, Hagenbeck, Carsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-08-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Breast Feeding; Breastfeeding & lactation; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 Vaccines; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinology; Fear; Female; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Immunization; Maternal-Fetal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Pandemics; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Vaccination; COVID-19; Pregnant; Anxiety; Breastfeeding; Vaccination
• ISSN: 1432-0711; 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-021-06297-z

Purpose
The COVID-19 vaccination is probably the most important source to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, recommendations and possibilities for vaccination for pregnant and breastfeeding women are inconsistent and dynamically changing.
Methods
An anonymous, online, cross-sectional survey was conducted among pregnant and breastfeeding women in Germany between 30th March and 19th April 2021 addressing COVID-19 vaccination attitudes including the underlying reasons for their decision. Additionally, anxiety regarding a SARS-CoV-2 infection and a symptomatic course of the infection were evaluated.
Results
In total, 2339 women (
n
 = 1043
pregnant
and
n
 = 1296
breastfeeding
) completed the survey. During pregnancy the majority (57.4%) are not in favour of receiving the vaccine, 28.8% are unsure and only 13.8% would get vaccinated at the time of the survey. In contrast, 47.2% would be in favour to receive the vaccine, if more scientific evidence on the safety of the vaccination during pregnancy would be available. Breastfeeding women show higher vaccination willingness (39.5% are in favour, 28.1% are unsure and 32.5% not in favour). The willingness to be vaccinated is significantly related to the women’s anxiety levels of getting infected and to develop disease symptoms. Main reasons for vaccination hesitancy are the women’s perception of limited vaccination-specific information, limited scientific evidence on vaccination safety and the fear to harm the fetus or infant.
Conclusions
The results provide important implications for obstetrical care during the pandemic as well as for official recommendations und information strategies regarding the COVID-19 vaccination.