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Recent studies have shown that pregnant women who had received a COVID-19 vaccine shot can alter a child’s ability to fight the virus — in a proactive way. On March 19, 2021, CBS reported that one woman in her final trimester of pregnancy received the vaccination. During labor, the newborn’s blood tests — on its umbilical cord — had shown the infant was a carrier for the virus’s antibodies.
Although still yet to be fully evaluated, Doctors Paul Gilbert and Chad Rudnick have shared the information they had discovered during a mother’s delivery. This data shows that the blood extracted from the umbilical cord had been teeming with virus antibodies.
Pregnant women were not amongst the first types of patients for the Moderna COVID-19 test trials. Vaccines like influenza and tetanus-diphtheria (TD) were transferable from mother to child via placenta. Doctors — to a certain degree — were anticipating a similar result from the COVID-19 vaccine as well, especially since it has been documented that a mother could pass along the virus to her unborn child by way of simple contraction.
CBS confirmed information about a major study from the Massachusetts General Hospital on the effects that the COVID-19 vaccines have on pregnant women. They studied 131 pregnant and lactating women: “Antibodies were present in the placenta and breast-milk of every sample taken.”
Despite the potential for strengthening our defenses as a society against the virus, doctors still see risks in pregnant women’s vaccinations — at least until enough research can prove it safe. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — both developers of a COVID-19 vaccine — haves stated that they plan to research pregnant women and infants. Doctors have expressed that these findings should bring a little consolation for hopeful parents whose children have yet to be approved for the vaccine.
Written by Armoni Von Kelly
Edited by Sheena Robertson
Source:
CBS News: First baby in U.S. born with antibodies against COVID-19 after mom receives does of Moderna vaccine while pregnant; by Sofie Lewis
Top Image Courtesy of Michellelynn’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inline and Featured Image Courtesy of Tim Reckmann’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License