Babies who consume breast milk from vaccinated people may also be protected against COVID.
Tri-City Herald
Babies who are too young to be vaccinated against COVID-19 may be more protected than previously thought, a new study has found.
Researchers from the University of Florida have found that babies who consume breast milk from vaccinated people have COVID-19 antibodies in their gastrointestinal tract.
The study builds on previous research that showed breast milk from vaccinated people carried antibodies against COVID-19, the mechanism needed to fight off an infection. What scientists didn’t know was whether this protection could also be transferred to babies who consumed it.
By testing the poop of babies who consumed breast milk from vaccinated people, scientists found that COVID-19 antibodies are present in a baby’s gastrointestinal tract.
COVID-19 is often thought of as a lung disease, but “it can also invade the gut, which is why finding antibodies there is important,” according to a statement from UF.
The study also measured antibodies in the blood plasma and breast milk of vaccinated people at different times after vaccination and found that ‘antibodies in the plasma and milk of vaccinated people were better able to neutralize the virus’ , but antibody levels declined over time.
“In our research, we follow the journey of antibodies, from when they are produced in the mother after vaccination and now through the digestive system of the baby. The next question is whether these babies are less likely to contract COVID-19,” study co-author Josef Neu said in the statement.
The study was relatively small, just 62 participants, so the researchers say more data is needed. But the research adds to a growing body of evidence that shows potential benefits for newborns when pregnant women are vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend COVID-19 vaccinations for children younger than 6 months, so researchers believe “breast milk may be the only way to provide immunity.”
The CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccinations for people who are currently pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant, or who may want to get pregnant in the future.
This story was originally published January 13, 2023 3:43 p.m.
