Study: COVID Vaccine Safe in Pregnancy, No Autism Link

New research brings reassuring news for pregnant women worried about COVID vaccine safety: there's no link between getting vaccinated and autism or developmental delays in children.

Scientists tracked 434 toddlers from across the United States, comparing children whose mothers received at least one mRNA COVID vaccine during pregnancy or within 30 days before conception with children whose mothers didn't. The results showed no meaningful differences in development between the two groups.

The study, presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's 2026 Pregnancy Meeting, was funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted between May 2024 and March 2025. Researchers carefully matched vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers based on delivery location, timing, insurance status, and race to ensure accurate comparisons.

When the children reached 18 to 30 months old, scientists assessed their progress using multiple screening tools. They measured communication skills, motor abilities, problem solving, social interaction, and behavior patterns. No differences emerged between the two groups.

"Neurodevelopment outcomes in children born to mothers who received the COVID-19 vaccine during or shortly before pregnancy did not differ from those born to mothers who did not receive the vaccine," said Dr. George Saade, Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Old Dominion University.

The study excluded certain pregnancies to maintain scientific rigor, including premature births before 37 weeks, multiple births, and cases where children had major congenital issues. This careful design strengthens confidence in the findings.

The Bright Side

This research addresses real concerns many pregnant women face when deciding whether to get vaccinated. With COVID still circulating and causing severe illness in some pregnant women, the findings help families make informed choices based on solid evidence rather than fear.

Both mRNA vaccines and protein subunit COVID vaccines are already recommended during all stages of pregnancy by health authorities. This new long-term data adds another layer of confidence about protecting both mother and baby.

The study represents exactly the kind of careful, patient scientific work needed to answer important health questions. Researchers didn't rush; they waited years to assess these children and used multiple validated tools to measure development accurately.

For the hundreds of thousands of women who got vaccinated during pregnancy and may have worried about long-term effects, this research offers peace of mind backed by rigorous science.