GAINESVILLE, Florida - Researchers at the University of Florida have recently found antibodies in the breast milk of lactating mothers who received the COVID-19 vaccine, which may protect nursing infants from illnesses.
The research has been based on lactating mothers who have been vaccinated with Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. As previous studies have already shown the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA and IgG antibodies in the breast milk of women infected with COVID-19 hence, the latter were not included in the study. The research team took the samples of mothers’ breast milk and blood three times, i.e., before vaccination, after the first dose of vaccination and then after the second dose.
The 90% of total immunoglobulin in breast milk is secretory IgA, along with 8% IgM and 2% IgG. Immunoglobulins of mother’s milk delivered during breastfeeding are crucial in shaping and modulating immature infants’ immune systems and play an essential role in limiting pathogens’ ability to infect and endure.
The research findings showed a significant increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination and strong antibody response in breast milk and blood after the 2nd dose. The antibodies almost showed a 100 fold increase than that is before vaccination. Moreover, both the mRNA vaccines almost showed a similar antibody response.
The authors of the research, Vivian Valcarce and colleagues, have concluded that the novel results suggested the potential transfer of protective antibodies to nursing babies after maternal COVID-19 vaccination and might show a promising influence in vaccination approach for lactating mothers.
The study “Detection of SARS-CoV-2-Specific IgA in the Human Milk of COVID-19 Vaccinated Lactating Health Care Workers” was published online ahead of the issue in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.
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