Prenatal COVID Vaccine Shows No Child Development Harm
Parents who got a COVID-19 shot during or just before pregnancy saw no developmental differences in their children at 18 to 30 months.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Babies
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A new analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children exposed to COVID-19 vaccination in the womb showed no differences in developmental outcomes compared with unexposed children. The study matched 217 pairs of women and assessed children aged 18 to 30 months, and the findings apply to families who received the vaccine during or within 30 days before pregnancy.
Why it matters
Expecting parents have had questions about whether prenatal vaccination could affect their baby's development, and this study offers reassuring evidence on that concern. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant patients, because infection during pregnancy carries risks of preterm delivery, neonatal death, and maternal death.
The analysis compared 217 pairs of women, matched on delivery site, delivery date, insurance status, race, and ethnicity, and found no difference in developmental scores for children at 18 to 30 months. Women were included if they received a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy or within 30 days before it.
The players
JAMA Pediatrics
A peer-reviewed pediatric medical journal that published the analysis.
Duke University School of Medicine
The academic medical institution where lead researcher Brenna L. Hughes, MD, works as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
A professional medical organization that strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant patients.
The details
Researchers identified women who received a COVID-19 vaccine during or within 30 days before pregnancy and matched each with a woman who did not receive the vaccine. After birth, the children's development was measured with the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, which tracks communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social skills. Across overall scores and each individual domain, the researchers found no differences between children exposed to the vaccine in utero and those who were not.
Timeline
The analysis was published in JAMA Pediatrics on November 5, 2026.
Children's developmental assessments were conducted when they were 18 to 30 months old.
The Home Front
This study adds to the body of research that families and clinicians rely on when weighing prenatal health decisions, a area where national guidance from professional medical organizations plays a central role. It sits within a broader pattern of pregnancy-related research aimed at giving parents evidence-based information about the health of their developing child.
If you are expecting or planning a pregnancy, talk with your obstetric provider about COVID-19 vaccination timing and keep your vaccine records on file. Keep track of your child's developmental check-ins with the pediatrician, since screening tools like the ASQ-3 are typically used at routine well-child visits.
The takeaway
The study offers reassuring evidence that prenatal COVID-19 vaccination did not affect children's developmental screening results at 18 to 30 months. Bring specific questions about vaccination and pregnancy to your obstetric provider, who can review your individual health history.
Further reading
For more on early childhood health and milestones, explore our Babies coverage.
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