Maternal and Child Health

INFANT FORMULA UPDATES

Formula Shortage

We are continuing to navigate through the issues related to the nationwide infant formula shortage. If you have questions, check with your baby’s physician or healthcare provider, especially if your baby is on a restricted diet or has any medical conditions.

Find tips, information and updates about the shortage. 

Formula Recall

There is a recall of potentially affected infant formula. Do not to use Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare or one lot of Similac PM 60/40 powdered infant formulas if: 

• the first two digits of the code are 22-37; and 
• the code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2; and 
• the expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
• Or, if the Similac PM 60/40 is Lot # 27032K80 (can) / Lot # 27032K800 (case).

To see if your powdered formula is part of the recall, visit this website or call Abbott Customer Service at 1-800-986-8540. For more information, see: FDA Investigation.

If you are a WIC participant, find more information on the WIC page.

If you have questions or need assistance, please call our call center at
202-519-4951, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. 

Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns During COVID-19

Based on what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) knows at this time, pregnant and recently pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared with nonpregnant people. Pregnant people are more likely to be hospitalized and require critical care including ventilation and admission to the intense care unit. COVID-19 during pregnancy also increases the risk for preterm birth of the infants. 

Current recommendations for pregnant people include:

• Take precautions to prevent getting COVID-19, including limiting in-person interactions with people who might have been exposed to or who might be infected with COVID-19 (including people within your household), avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, washing hands often and wearing a mask.
• Seek care immediately if you have a medical emergency.
• Do not skip prenatal care appointments.
• Get the recommended vaccines during pregnancy, including a flu shot and a whooping cough (Tdap) shot, to help protect you and your baby.

Information about COVID-19 Vaccines

If you are pregnant, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), CDC, and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommend vaccination based on new evidence on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. 

Evidence about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy has been growing. Here are some important things to know:

• Data suggest that the benefits of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine outweigh any known or potential risks of vaccination during pregnancy. New findings from CDC’s v-safe pregnancy registry suggest that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during early pregnancy does not increase the risk for miscarriage.
• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can protect you from severe illness from COVID-19. 
• Safety monitoring systems are in place to gather information about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy. 
• You can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines. Women aged under 50 years should be aware of the rare risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and the availability of other FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., mRNA vaccines). Read more.
• If you are deciding whether to get a COVID-19 vaccine, consider your COVID-19 risks, the benefits, and what we know about its safety. Talking with your healthcare provider might help, but is not required. You can also call the Health Department’s COVID-19 information line at 703-267-3511 or MotherToBaby at 1-866-626-6847. 
• Consider participating in the V-safe pregnancy registry.
• Learn more: COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

If you are lactating, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended. 

• Clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines did not include people who are breastfeeding, so there is limited data available on the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in lactating people and the effects of vaccination on the breastfed baby, milk production or excretion. Based on how these vaccines work in the body, COVID-19 vaccines are thought not to be a risk to lactating people or their breastfeeding babies. 
• Recent reports have shown that breastfeeding people who have received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have antibodies in their breastmilk, which could help protect their babies. More data are needed to determine what protection these antibodies may provide to the baby.
• You can get any of the COVID-19 vaccines. Women aged under 50 years should be aware of the rare risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receipt of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and the availability of other FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., mRNA vaccines).  Read more.
• Learn more: COVID-19 Vaccines While Pregnant or Breastfeeding

If you are trying to become pregnant now or want to get pregnant in the future, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended. 

• There is currently no evidence that antibodies made following COVID-19 vaccination or that vaccine ingredients would cause any problems with becoming pregnant now or in the future. Many people have become pregnant after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, including some who got vaccinated during COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials.
• COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended for partners of people who would like to get pregnant. Currently no evidence shows that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause male fertility problems. 
• Learn more: People Who Would Like to Have a Baby

Learn more from the CDC:

Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Breastfeeding and Caring for Newborns