Testing positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy has been linked to a greater risk of the parent’s child having neurodevelopmental problems, research from Mass General Brigham and Harvard scientists has found.

The study builds on previous research that found similar results in kids up to 18 months old. Researchers wanted to look at those children at the age of 3 to see if the effect held.

It did. Especially if the pregnant person had COVID in the third trimester of pregnancy, these children were more likely to have a neurodevelopmental condition, such as autism or speech delays.

The results reiterate vaccination as a safe and effective tool for disease prevention, said Lydia Shook, assistant professor of maternal fetal medicine at Mass General Brigham and lead author on the paper.

“We sh

See Full Page