Prenatal COVID Vaccine Shows No Child Development Harm
Parents who were vaccinated during pregnancy saw no difference in toddler developmental scores in a 217-pair study.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Babies
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A JAMA Pediatrics analysis found that in utero exposure to COVID-19 vaccines was not associated with differences in children's neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 to 30 months of age. The study matched 217 pairs of women, comparing those vaccinated during or within 30 days before pregnancy with those who were not, and found no differences in overall or domain-specific developmental screening scores.
Why it matters
Expectant parents weighing COVID-19 vaccination often ask whether it could affect their child's development, and this study adds reassuring evidence on that question. The findings arrive as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to strongly recommend vaccination during pregnancy, because infection itself carries serious risks for both mother and baby.
This matched cohort study compared 217 pairs of women who received a COVID-19 vaccine during or within 30 days before pregnancy with women who did not, matched on delivery site, delivery date, insurance status, race, and ethnicity. Children were assessed at 18 to 30 months using the ASQ-3 and showed no differences in overall or domain-specific scores.
The players
Duke University School of Medicine
A major academic medical center whose researchers contribute to maternal-fetal medicine and pregnancy-outcome studies.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The professional organization for obstetricians and gynecologists that issues clinical guidance on prenatal care, including vaccination during pregnancy.
The details
Researchers matched vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women on several factors, including delivery site, delivery date, insurance status, race, and ethnicity, to make the groups more comparable. After birth, the children's development was measured with the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition, a screening tool that tracks communication, gross and fine motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social abilities. The ASQ-3 is a parent-completed questionnaire, which is why the authors note that stronger conclusions will require standardized assessments conducted under direct observation.
Timeline
The JAMA Pediatrics analysis was published on November 5, 2026.
Children were assessed when they were between 18 and 30 months old.
Health Landscape
Pregnancy vaccine research has increasingly focused on whether maternal immunization affects infant health beyond infection prevention, and the ACOG guidance reflects that broader safety framework. This developmental-outcome analysis extends that body of evidence to neurodevelopment, a question that is harder to study than birth outcomes alone.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, this study offers reassuring developmental data to bring to your next prenatal visit. Any personal decision about vaccination is worth discussing with your obstetric clinician, who can account for your own health history.
The takeaway
Current evidence does not link in utero COVID-19 vaccine exposure to differences in early childhood development, and the ACOG continues to strongly recommend vaccination during pregnancy. Parents who want to track developmental milestones can use standardized screening tools like the ASQ-3 and raise any concerns with their pediatrician.
Further reading
For more on early childhood milestones, see our Babies coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Umn.
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