The First Baby With COVID-19 Antibodies Has Been Born, Thanks to Vaccinated Mom
A newborn child in Florida is the world’s first baby born with COVID-19 antibodies. This is thanks to the mother who had been inoculated with Moderna’s vaccine during her 36th week of pregnancy. She and her newborn were the subjects of a case study by researchers Paul Gilbert and Chad Rudnick. The mother, a healthcare worker in Florida, gave birth three weeks later to the child, who tested positive for antibodies to COVID-19.
According to a preprint study conducted on the mother and the newborn child, antibodies to COVID-19 were detected in the cord blood after maternal vaccination. But the researchers also emphasized that it only offers partial protection for the child, saying the partial immunity can last only up to six months.
Other Ways Mothers Transmit Antibodies to Babies
It is not the first time for unvaccinated babies to receive some immunity from COVID-19 through their mothers. In a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AJOG), it was revealed that pregnant women who were infected with severe cases of COVID-19 also passed their body’s defenses to their unborn child.
In the same study, it was also revealed that breastfeeding is another way for mothers to pass on antibodies to their vulnerable babies. According to the researchers, vaccinated mothers are able to transmit antibodies to a child through breast milk.
Safety of Vaccination on Pregnant Individuals
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the COVID-19 vaccine may be administered to those who are pregnant.
Initially, the World Health Organization cautioned pregnant individuals who wish to get vaccinated. The warning was issued because of the lack of data on the effects of the vaccine on pregnancies. It later revised its position on January 26, 2021.
“While pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe COVID-19, very little data are available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy. Nevertheless, based on what we know about this kind of vaccine (Moderna mRNA-1273), we don’t have any specific reason to believe there will be specific risks that would outweigh the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women,” the WHO said.
Further, according to the National Institutes of Health, individuals who experience severe COVID-19 symptoms have a higher risk of complications during and after pregnancy.
