Umbilical Cord Blood Antibody Levels Extremely High... Evidence That Vaccines Simultaneously Protect Both Mother and Baby Lives
[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Jinsoo Lee] It has been revealed that antibodies are transferred to the fetus when pregnant women receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Researchers at New York University collected and tested blood samples from 36 babies born to mothers vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.
As a result, all 36 babies had antibodies. The researchers stated in a paper published on the 21st (local time) in the prestigious journal American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Maternal-Fetal Medicine (AJOG MFM) that antibody levels in the umbilical cord blood of pregnant women in the late stages of pregnancy were very high.
Experts say this is not surprising, as the same effect has been observed with other vaccines.
This study provides further evidence that vaccines can protect both the mother and the baby simultaneously.
Ashley Roman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University and one of the paper's authors, said, "If a baby is born with antibodies, they can be protected during the most vulnerable first few months of life."
According to a series of papers published since the COVID-19 pandemic, children are less likely to face severe situations from COVID-19 infection. However, newborns with weak immune systems are a different matter.
All papers published so far consistently suggest that mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna are safe for pregnant women. There is no evidence that they cause miscarriage or birth defects.
Jennifer Righter, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center who participated in this study, said, "Although the study sample is small, it is encouraging that vaccinated pregnant women have higher antibody levels in their newborns," adding, "This is exactly why pregnant women should get vaccinated."
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