Impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on women's reproductive health

  • Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: 202111WI3

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19
  • Start & end year

    2021
    2023
  • Known Financial Commitments (USD)

    $124,820
  • Funder

    Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Principal Investigator

    N/A

  • Research Location

    Canada
  • Lead Research Institution

    Queen's University
  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A
  • Research Category

    Vaccines research, development and implementation

  • Research Subcategory

    Adverse events associated with immunization

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Non-Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    N/A

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Adults (18 and older)

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Unspecified

Abstract

Women of reproductive age are often excluded from research studies on new interventions such as medications or vaccines. As a result, information on the safety of such interventions on female reproductive health outcomes is lacking. As SARS-CoV-2 vaccination became widely available in early 2021, so did concerns about the potential impact of vaccination on female reproductive health. Unsubstantiated claims were made on social media that the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could damage the human placenta and result in infertility and miscarriage. This may have heightened vaccine hesitancy in some individuals. Pregnant people, and those who may conceive, are among those identified as having lower SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake. Furthermore, certain minority groups have raised concern about the long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 vaccination on fertility, which could be a contributing factor to their lower rates of vaccination. Well-conducted, population-based studies are urgently needed to understand whether there is any adverse effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on women's reproductive health, with the ultimate goal of improving vaccine uptake, especially among identified high-hesitancy groups.