The Benefits of Vaccination During Pregnancy: Protecting Both Mother and Infant Against COVID-19

Vaccination during pregnancy not only protects the mother, but also the babies, who cannot be vaccinated until 6 months of age.

(HealthDay News) – When pregnant women receive a COVID vaccine, they help protect their newborns from the virus, a new government study shows.

“These findings indicate that maternal vaccination during pregnancy could help prevent COVID-19-related hospitalization in infants too young to be vaccinated,” wrote researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC, for its acronym in English).

Antibodies after COVID vaccination crossed the placenta and were found in umbilical cord blood, according to the study. Babies cannot receive COVID vaccines until they are 6 months old.

The first months of an infant’s life, a crucial stage where maternal vaccination plays a fundamental role in preventing hospitalizations related to COVID-19 (Gettyimages)

In infants younger than 3 months, a vulnerable stage of life, maternal vaccination was 54% effective against COVID hospitalization, according to the report.

In infants 3 to 5 months old, the vaccine was still 35% effective when their mothers received it during pregnancy.

“This finding is consistent with at least one other study, which demonstrated increased protection among infants during the first 90 days of life,” the researchers wrote.

Reported Friday in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, data for the study came from 26 children’s hospitals through May 2023.

The effectiveness of maternal vaccination varies depending on the age of the infant, but it is an essential tool in preventing hospitalizations in the first months of life (Getty Images)

As of winter 2022, infants are among the age groups with the highest hospitalization rates for SARS-COV2 infection, the study noted.

Among the organizations urging vaccination for pregnant mothers is the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which has pointed to numerous studies showing that vaccines can also help reduce the risk of serious illness for the mother, CBS News reported.

However, pregnant women who contract COVID may face a higher risk of complications, including stillbirth, although the overall risks are low, according to the CDC.

Pregnant women have also been recommended to receive the pertussis vaccine and now the new vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, RSV.

More information. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has more on pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccination.

Fuente: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 29 de septiembre de 2023; CBS News.

*Cara Murez. Health Day Reporters. Healthday Spanish. © The New York Times 2023

2023-10-02 20:30:00
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