Vaccinated nursing mothers could pass COVID-19 antibodies to babies ─Study

*Researchers suggest vaccinated mothers can pass on the immunity to their babies, though they still need to confirm if protection is passed between mothers and kids

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

A fresh study conducted by researchers from the University of Florida, in the United States, explored how the COVID-19 Vaccines may protect breastfeeding mothers and their children.

The study findings indicated the samples of breast milk from women who had received the COVID-19 Vaccines contained antibodies that protect against the virus.

The team says this may be beneficial in keeping infants free of infection.

Researcher Joseph Larkin III, Ph.D, said: “Our findings showed that vaccination results in a significant increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 ─ the virus that causes COVID-19 ─ in breast milk, suggesting that vaccinated mothers can pass on the immunity to their babies, something we are working to confirm in our ongoing research.”

On increasing the number of antibodies for the research, the scientists had 21 breastfeeding women who had never been infected with COVID-19 participate in the study.

They tested samples of the women’s breast milk and blood prior to getting vaccinated and after each dose of the vaccine to get an accurate antibody reading.

Ultimately, the results showed that the women’s breast milk contained significant amounts of COVID-19 antibodies.

According to the team, there was about “a hundred-fold increase” in antibody levels between pre- and post-vaccination.

Dr. Vivian Valcarce, one of the researchers, stated: “These levels are also higher than those observed after natural infection with the virus.”

Protection for infants

Despite these positive results, the researchers are left with further questions for future studies, report said.

They say it remains unclear if the antibodies detected in the women’s breast milk will serve as a protective barrier for infants.

Dr. Larkin again, said: “We would like to know if infants who consume breast milk containing these antibodies develop their own protection against COVID-19.

“In addition, we would also like to know more about the antibodies themselves, such as how long they are present in breast milk and how effective they are at neutralising the virus.”

While more work is likely to be done to determine the efficacy of this form of protection for infants, these findings highlight one of the ways that the COVID-19 vaccine can be beneficial to breastfeeding women.

“Think of breast milk as a toolbox full of all the different tools that help prepare the infant for life.

“Vaccination adds another tool to the toolbox, one that has the potential to be especially good at preventing COVID-19 illness.

“The results of our study strongly suggest that vaccines can help protect both mom and baby, another compelling reason for pregnant or lactating women to get vaccinated,” said researcher Dr. Josef Neu.

Kindly Share This Story