The findings also suggest that vaccinating pregnant women could also protect their babies, the researchers said, and it is worth studying the possibility. Pregnant women are advised to have flu shots to protect themselves and their babies.
Dr. Dustin Flannery of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital and colleagues studied more than 1,400 mothers and babies. They found that protective IgG antibodies were transferred to the placenta in 72 of 83 infected or previously infected pregnant women they studied.
None of the babies of infected mothers developed coronavirus infection. And 60% of women who had antibodies to the coronavirus had no symptoms, the researchers reported.
“Could maternal antibodies help delay the onset of the infection or protect the baby from becoming infected, seriously ill, or dying of COVID-19?” asked Dr. Flor Munoz, a molecular virologist at Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinating babies for the flu at six months, for example, even if mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy.
“To what extent can antibodies transferred through breast milk protect breastfed babies?” Munoz asked.
“Should babies be vaccinated regardless of maternal infection and, if so, what is the best time to start childhood vaccines? Is there a potential detrimental effect of maternal antibodies on children’s responses to active immunization? And what would the vaccination and vaccination regimen be optimal for infants, taking into account their risk and their unique immune needs? “