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Study: Vaccinated pregnant women pass COVID antibodies to babies

New COVID-19 research indicates pregnant women who received the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines pass high levels of protective antibodies to their babies.

These findings were reported in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology-Maternal Fetal Medicine and approved by the Institutional Review Board — an institution designated to review and monitor biomedical research involving human subjects.

The study involved 36 newborn babies whose mothers had received at least one dose of Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna. It indicated babies had antibodies that targeted the spike protein found on the surface of the coronavirus.

The doctors analysed blood samples from these babies’ umbilical cord and the antibodies found could be traced to the mothers’ vaccination.

In an interview with international news organisation, Reuters, co-author of the research and a research scientist at NYU Langone Health in New York City Dr, Ashely Roman said “the antibodies that the mother is building to the vaccine are crossing the placenta and that’s likely to confer benefits for the infant after it is born”.

Dr Roman said it is not yet clear if the timing of the vaccination during pregnancy impacts the level of antibodies found in the baby. She further said the research does not definitely state how long the antibodies stay in the baby.

However, she noted, “the presence of these antibodies in the cord blood, which is the foetus’ blood, indicates that the baby also has potential to derive benefits from maternal vaccination”.

Why Pfizer and Moderna?

So what is so special about the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines? Well, these vaccines use a molecule called mRNA that teach our cells how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. There is no confirmation the results are the same with the AstraZeneca and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine which do not use the mRNA molecule.

The readily available vaccine in the BVI is AstraZeneca but Health Minister Carvin Malone announced last month that the government has been making strident efforts at securing the Pfizer & Moderna vaccines for the territory.

So far, a little more than 50 percent of the population is fully vaccinated while another eight per cent is partially vaccinated. Although the response to the vaccine in the territory is significantly better than most other Caribbean states, there is still lingering concerns regarding the long-term implications of the vaccine.

Vaccine hesitancy locally

This has caused vaccine hesitancy amongst various sections of the population including pregnant women.

However, scientists across the world are working assiduously to identify antibodies that may neutralise the coronavirus even after it mutates. This, they hope can increase vaccine acceptance across the world and in small island states.

While this news might be ground-breaking, the study also indicates additional research is needed to validate the findings and the study is yet to be peer-reviewed.

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4 Comments

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  1. malone says:

    i tired comment on the stupidity.who suppose to take the deathshot will take it and who not suppose to wont take it. EVERYBODY HAVE A CHOICE.

    Like 20
    Dislike 6
  2. kyrie irvin says:

    I told you all that that thing called covid19 vaccine is dangerous

    Like 8
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  3. and? says:

    As well as many other antibodies like the ones for flu and cold. The article trying to make it sound like its specifically the antibodies from the vaccine.
    Mothers who recover from covid pass on antibodies as well, and a more varied set due to how natural immunity works.

    Like 12
    Dislike 2
  4. Stop The Nonsense says:

    Its about time who ever is pushing this nonsense needs to stop.Just bring out the truth.Why is the media not bringing out the real news thats happening in America and around the world? Several babies died within the same time frame last month with the same symtoms and all of them had one thing in common.The mothers took the covid vaccine and that endangered there breast milk intake.The media and whoever incharge need to stop decieveing the public and start spreading the TRUTH.The 1% evil doers is not even hiding to say it anymore.

    Like 11
    Dislike 1

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