A retrospective study published in JAMA concluded that the BNT162b2 vaccine from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and BioNTech (NSDQ:BNTX) offered statistically significant protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The pivotal trial Pfizer used to win emergency use authorization for the vaccine excluded pregnant women. COVID-19, however, increases the risk of pregnancy-related complications — particularly in the third trimester.
To determine how the vaccine performs in pregnant women, researchers in Israel tracked 7,530 vaccinated and 7,530 unvaccinated expectant mothers. They counted 118 COVID-19 infections in the vaccinated group and 202 in the control group. Researchers recruited volunteers from Maccabi Healthcare Services (Tel Aviv).
Among the two groups of women with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infections, between 83% and 84% were symptomatic.
Some 68 patients receiving the vaccine complained of adverse events. None of them, however, were severe.
The resea…