New Study Shows Benefits of COVID Vaccination for Pregnant Women and Newborns
A new study published in the journal Vaccine has found that getting a COVID vaccine or booster while pregnant can benefit both the mother and the baby. Conducted by researchers from the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC), the study analyzed data from the Multisite Observational Maternal and Infant Study for COVID-19 (MOMI-VAX), which tracked the levels of COVID antibodies in pregnant women who had received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
The MOMI-VAX study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), involved 240 pregnant participants and newborn babies. The researchers found that those who received the vaccines had antibodies against multiple COVID variants, including Delta and Omicron. Furthermore, the cord blood of these women also contained the antibodies, indicating that they had crossed the placenta to offer protection for newborns.
According to the study, pregnant women who received a booster dose had significantly higher levels of antibodies against the virus. Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, supported the findings, stating that COVID vaccination is safe during pregnancy and can decrease the severity of illness if a pregnant woman contracts COVID.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older, including pregnant women, get vaccinated against COVID. This study further supports the importance of vaccinating pregnant women to protect both themselves and their babies.
While the study provides promising results, the researchers stress the need for further studies. They highlight the importance of determining the optimal time during pregnancy to get vaccinated for maximum protection. Additionally, they suggest studying other aspects of prenatal COVID vaccination, such as antibody levels in breast milk and in babies during the first year after birth.
The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccination in pregnant women. By getting vaccinated, pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies from the virus, reducing the risk of severe illness and potential complications.
