NASPAG releases position statement on COVID-19 vaccines and gynecological care considerations in adolescents and young adults

On May 14, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released Interim Recommendations for the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 15 years for COVID-19 prevention. These recommendations follow the the Food and Drug Administration’s expansion of the Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents aged 12 to 15. Find updates to the ACIP’s recommendations and clinical considerations on the ACIP website.

Although teens and adolescents are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination, many parents have concerns about the vaccine’s interactions with puberty, menstrual cycles, birth control and fertility. The North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (NASPAG) released a position statement today to address these concerns.

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Summary Guidance (From NASPAG Advocacy Statement – COVID-19 Vaccine)

All children, adolescents, and young adults who are vaccine eligible should be offered their choice of available & approved COVID-19 vaccines.

There is no reason to delay the COVID 19 vaccine for an adolescent due to their stage of puberty.

Irregular periods are a common part of adolescence and are part of normal pubertal development. Menstrual cycles of adolescents have a wide normal range and if the vaccine has an effect on cycles, it is likely short-term and self-limited.

Adolescents and young adults who are sexually active and/or using hormonal or non-hormonal contraceptive methods should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pregnant adolescents should be offered the COVID-19 vaccine as they are a group at high risk of COVID complications. A pregnancy test is not indicated before a vaccine.

There is no scientific data that demonstrates a link between the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility.

Reference

1. North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. NASPAG Position Statement on COVID-19 vaccines and Gynecologic Concerns in Adolescent and Young Adults. https://www.naspag.org/assets/docs/NASPAG%20Advocacy%20Statement%20-%20COVID%2019%20Vaccine.pdf Published May 17, 2021. Accessed May 17, 2021.