Pregnant women who get mRNA vaccines pass high levels of antibodies to their babies, according to a study published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Maternal Fetal Medicine on Wednesday.
One of the first studies to measure antibody levels in umbilical cord blood found that 36 newborns tested at birth had antibodies to protect against Covid-19 after their mothers were vaccinated with shots from Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE or Moderna Inc.
Dr Ashley Roman, an obstetrician at NYU and one of the lead authors said: ‘If babies could be born with antibodies, it may protect them in the first months of their lives, when they are most vulnerable.’
Children face a tiny risk of falling seriously ill with Covid, a plethora of studies have shown since the pandemic began. But the risk is slightly higher among babies, who have weaker immune systems.
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Data from September 11 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that only 30 per cent of women aged between 18 and 49 are vaccinated against Covid-19 in the US, despite various studies stressing on prenatal vaccine safety.
Since the study had a small subjects’ group, the research team is now looking at results from a bigger sample group and the longevity of the immunisation among newborns.
“We pushed this data out relatively early because it’s a unique finding and it has important implications for care,” Roman said, adding that as of now the research team urges all expecting mothers to get jabbed for maternal benefits.
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