The findings also suggest that vaccinating pregnant women may also protect their unborn babies, the researchers said – and it is worth investigating the possibility. Pregnant women are advised to take flu vaccines to protect themselves and their babies.
Newborn specialist Dr. Dustin Flannery of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital and colleagues studied more than 1,400 mothers and newborns. They found that protective IgG antibodies were transmitted through the placenta in 72 out of 83 infected or previously infected pregnant women they studied.
None of the infants of infected mothers contracted coronavirus infection. And 60% of the women who had antibodies to coronavirus had no symptoms, the researchers reported.
“Can maternal bodies help delay the onset of infection or protect the baby from infection, serious illness or death from COVID-19?” asks Dr. Flor Munoz, a molecular virologist at Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends, for example, that babies be vaccinated against the flu at six months, even if the mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy.
“To what extent can antibodies transmitted through breast milk protect lactating newborns?” Vra Munoz.
“Should infants be vaccinated regardless of the maternal infection, and if so, what is the best time to start infant vaccines? Is there a potential adverse effect of antibodies on mothers on responses to active vaccination? For infants, taking into account their risk and unique immunological needs? ‘