A multicenter prospective observational study found that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine administered during or shortly before pregnancy had no effect on the neurodevelopment of children aged 18 to 30 months[2]. Researchers compared children born to mothers who were vaccinated before or during pregnancy with children born to unvaccinated mothers and found no significant differences in four screening tests to assess developmental disorders[2]. According to the lead researcher at Hopkins, the overall message is that COVID-19 causes significant disease in pregnant women and young children, and if he had to balance the risk between the vaccine and the disease itself, he would strongly recommend the vaccine[2]. Alycia Halladay, chief scientist at the Autism Science Foundation, said the absence of differences in all four tests is evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine does not lead to developmental problems in most children[2]. The study was presented at the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine in 2026[2]. Researchers hope this research will help dispel myths about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy[2].