COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Transfer Protective Antibodies to Babies

Strategic Insights -

Pregnant women who receive COVID-19 mRNA vaccines during their third trimester generate a strong immune response and pass protective antibodies through the umbilical cord to their babies. Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian studied 122 women who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine and found that 99% of newborns had protective antibodies after their mothers received both vaccine doses. This is encouraging news for pregnant women who want to protect themselves and their newborns against COVID-19. The researchers also found that vaccination led to antibody production in pregnant women as early as five days after the first dose, and the transfer of antibodies to the baby occurred as early as 16 days after the first dose.

Key Takeaways:

  • 122 pregnant women received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine during their third trimester and generated a strong immune response.
  • 99% of newborns had protective antibodies after their mothers received both vaccine doses.
  • 44% of babies had antibodies after one dose of the vaccine.
  • The researchers found that vaccination led to antibody production in pregnant women as early as five days after the first dose.
  • The transfer of antibodies from the mother to the baby occurred as early as 16 days after the first dose.
  • The higher the maternal antibody levels, the higher the newborn antibody levels.
  • The chances of having detectable antibodies in the mother and in their neonates increase with time elapsed since vaccination.
  • Dr. Malavika Prabhu, lead study author, stated that receiving two doses prior to birth will increase the likelihood of antibodies being transferred to the baby.
  • Dr. Yawei Jenny Yang, senior study author, emphasized the importance of ensuring an adequate amount of time between vaccination and birth to ensure the pregnant woman has enough time to mount an antibody response and to pass antibodies on through the cord blood.

Statistics:

  • 122 pregnant women participated in the study.
  • 99% of newborns had protective antibodies after their mothers received both vaccine doses.
  • 44% of babies had antibodies after one dose of the vaccine.
  • 5 days: the earliest time of antibody production in pregnant women after the first dose.
  • 16 days: the earliest time of antibody transfer from the mother to the baby after the first dose.
  • Increased maternal antibody levels correlated with higher newborn antibody levels.

Sources:

  • Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian researchers, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology on April 28.
  • Dr. Malavika Prabhu, lead study author, Associate Director of Labor and Delivery at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Alexandra Cohen Hospital for Women and Newborns.
  • Dr. Yawei Jenny Yang, senior study author, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and Assistant Attending Pathologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.