ACOG Releases COVID-19 Vaccination Conversation Guide for Pregnant Patients

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released a conversation guide for clinicians discussing COVID-19 vaccines with their pregnant patients.

The guidance consists of talking points that are “intended to help guide risk and benefit conversations with pregnant patients.”

Specifically, the points are broken into 7 categories: risk of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, safety of COVID-19 vaccines, efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, pregnant patient’s individual risk based on circumstances, safety and efficacy for the newborn, special considerations for communities of color, and continued support.

“In the interest of patient autonomy, ACOG recommends that pregnant individuals be free to make their own decision regarding COVID-19 vaccination. While pregnant individuals are encouraged to discuss vaccination considerations with their clinical care team when feasible, documentation of such a discussion should not be required prior to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine,” they wrote.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy: conversation guide for clinicians. April 2021. Accessed May 19, 2021. https://www.acog.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy-conversation-guide-for-clinicians