Evaluating the Newborn-Related Outcomes of Pregnancy After COVID-19 Sinopharm Vaccination

Background: In December 2019, acute respiratory infection caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was diagnosed for the first time, leading to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnancy is known to be an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, pregnant women have been among the priorities to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. The results following the injection of these vaccines are still unknown. Objectives: The present study evaluated the effects of Sinopharm vaccination on newborns. Methods: This study is a retrospective cohort study conducted among pregnant women aged 40 years or younger and their newborns, who were admitted to Baharloo Hospital, Tehran, in the year 2023. A total of 427 cases were reviewed, 144 of which were injected with the Sinopharm vaccine 3 months before pregnancy, 124 cases had been vaccinated during the first trimester, and 157 cases were unvaccinated. The data gathered from the files included: Name, date of admission, history of parity, the number of previous childbirths and the method (vaginal or caesarian section), drug history, date of injection according to the vaccination certificate, type of vaccine, and the number of doses up to the date of childbirth. The data gathered concerning the newborns included: Sex, 1st and 5th minute Apgar score, weight, indication for admission to neonatal intensive care unit and the duration, need for resuscitation, TTN, and newborn’s death. The information was gathered from the newborn files by midwives and doctors. The data was then analyzed by SPSS version 26 software. Results: According to the data analysis, unvaccinated individuals exhibited significant differences in delivery type (P = 0.012), history of COVID-19 (P < 0.001), presence of a positive past medical history (P < 0.001), and a positive drug history (P < 0.001) compared to vaccinated individuals. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in preterm birth and stillbirth rates between the two groups (odds of preterm: 0.84 (0.79 - 0.93), P = 0.04, odds of stillbirth: 0.83 (0.43 - 0.81), P < 0.001), which remained significant even after accounting for potential confounding factors (odds of preterm: 0.86 (0.67 - 0.89), P < 0.001, odds of stillbirth: 0.83 (0.43 - 0.79), P < 0.001). Conclusions: There was no relativity discovered between Sinopharm vaccination and a higher rate of stillbirth and newborn mortality. However, newborns of mothers vaccinated in the first trimester showed a significantly lower 5th minute Apgar.