EMA Says Evidence Suggests Benefits Of MRNA COVID-19 Vaccines During Pregnancy Outweighs Possible Risks

Jan 18 (Reuters) - European Medicines Agency:

* EMA SAYS COVID-19: LATEST SAFETY DATA PROVIDE REASSURANCE ABOUT USE OF MRNA VACCINES DURING PREGNANCY

* EMA - STUDIES SHOWED COVID-19 VACCINES ARE AS EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING THE RISK OF HOSPITALISATION, DEATHS IN PREGNANT PEOPLE AS IN NON-PREGNANT PEOPLE

* EMA SAYS ITS COVID-19 TASK FORCE HIGHLIGHTS GROWING EVIDENCE INDICATING MRNA COVID-19 VACCINES DO NOT CAUSE PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS, THEIR BABIES

* EMA - MOST COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINES IN PREGNANT PEOPLE ALSO MATCH THOSE IN THE OVERALL VACCINATED POPULATION

* EMA - PEOPLE WHO ARE PREGNANT OR MIGHT BECOME PREGNANT IN THE NEAR FUTURE ARE ENCOURAGED TO GET VACCINATED IN LINE WITH NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

* EMA: REVIEW DID NOT FIND ANY SIGN OF INCREASED RISK OF PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS, MISCARRIAGES, PRETERM BIRTHS OR ADVERSE EFFECTS IN UNBORN BABIES FOLLOWING MRNA COVID-19 VACCINATION

* EMA: TASK FORCE UNDERTOOK A DETAILED REVIEW OF SEVERAL STUDIES INVOLVING AROUND 65,000 PREGNANCIES AT DIFFERENT STAGES

* EMA: REVIEW OF REAL WORLD EVIDENCE SUGGESTS BENEFITS OF RECEIVING MRNA COVID-19 VACCINES DURING PREGNANCY OUTWEIGHS ANY POSSIBLE RISKS FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS AND UNBORN BABIES