First Baby Born With COVID-19 Antibodies
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy, particularly with the influenza vaccine and Tdap, is commonplace and recommended, as the antibodies travel via placenta to the baby. While it was expected that COVID-19 vaccination will provide the same protection, it has now been confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies are detectable in cord blood following maternal vaccination.1
In this first reported case, the mother (a COVID-19 naïve front-line healthcare worker) was vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine at the gestational age of 36 weeks and 3 days.1 The mother then gave birth 3 weeks later to a healthy, full-term, baby girl.1 As the mother received the Moderna vaccine, which has a 4-week period between the 1st and 2nd dose, she had not yet received her second vaccine before giving birth. Following the birth, and in line with the 28-day vaccination period, the mother received her second dose of the Moderna vaccine. 1
Immediately following birth, a cord blood sample was taken prior to placenta delivery. Results of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer test revealed cord blood antibodies (IgG) at a level of 1.31U/mL.1
While detection of antibodies indicates some immune response to COVID-19, quantitative data are still needed to determine the specific antibody threshold for protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.1 Additionally, the duration of antibody protection, particularly in newborns receiving antibodies from the mothers, is not yet known. Once the period of protection and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines in babies are better understood, a vaccine schedule for the coronavirus can begin to be developed for infants.1
“We urge other investigators to create pregnancy and breastfeeding registries as well as conduct efficacy and safety studies of the COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant and breastfeeding women and their offspring,” stated the authors of this study, Paul Gilbert and Chad Rudnick. 1
—Audrey Amos, PharmD
Reference:
Gilbert P, Rudnick C. Newborn antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 detected in cord blood after maternal vaccination. medRxiv. Published online February 5, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.03.21250579