We, the undersigned OBGYN Community physicians, support the advice from ACOG, The American College of OBGYN, in its Practice Advisory of 2/4/2021, regarding the vaccination of pregnant women against COVID-19. This Advisory recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine not be withheld from pregnant women.

While safety data on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy are not currently available (studies are ongoing), we believe the safety and efficacy profile of the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna) and the adenovirus vector vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Jansenn) for pregnant individuals will be shown to be similar to that observed in non-pregnant individuals. This belief is based on the mechanism of action of these vaccines, and the fact that these vaccines do not alter human DNA and therefore cannot cause any genetic changes in vaccine recipients.

We strongly encourage pregnant women to consider vaccination. This is because available data suggests that symptomatic pregnant patients with COVID-19 are at increased risk of more severe illness compared with non-pregnant peers. We are especially concerned because of the recent increase in the number of seriously ill pregnant women in the Lakewood area.

Dr Gaye Fried – CHEMED Health Center
Dr. William N. Kaufman – Shore Area OBGYN
Dr Andrew Sun – Shore Area OBGYN
Dr. Anthony P. Giovine – A Women’s Place
Dr Clara Surowitz – Tru OB/Gyn and Birth Center
Dr Sandra Belkin – Sunrise OBGYN
Dr Jenna Levy – Sunrise OBGYN
Dr Jessica Fischetti-Galvin – Sunrise OBGYN
Dr Joshua Segal – RWJ OBGYN Associates
Dr Michelle Caban – RWJ OBGYN Associates
Dr. Ron Bochner – RWJ OGBYN Associates
Dr Eugene Kim – RWJ OBGYN Associates
Dr Antoinette Ham – RWJ OBGYN Associates
Dr Kenneth Skorenko, West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr Dominick LoBraico, West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr Jennifer Pompliano, West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr Karen Smith, West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr Sharon Jackson, West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr Elie Soussan, MD West Long Branch OBGYN
Dr. Jacqueline Roman – Generations OBGYN