The long-term effects of prenatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been a subject of great interest. A new prospective cohort study from the COVI-PREG registry has provided essential insights. The study assessed 330 infants at 12 months of age, comparing those exposed in utero to SARS-CoV-2 or the COVID-19 vaccine with unexposed infants. Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes across five domains—communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social development—the findings were reassuring.
The study found no increased risk of neurodevelopmental issues in infants exposed to SARS-CoV-2 or the COVID-19 vaccine compared to the reference group. The adjusted odds ratios for low scores in at least one subdomain were not significantly different between groups, and the mean ASQ-3 scores remained within the normal range for all groups. These findings add to the growing body of evidence supporting the safety of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, with no adverse effects observed on infant neurodevelopment up to 12 months of age.
While these results are promising, the authors highlight the importance of continued long-term follow-up to confirm these outcomes as children grow.
Read the full study to explore more about these critical findings.
