A recent study has shown that the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy will continue to benefit the fetus even after it is born. There has been a lot of talk regarding the COVID-19 vaccine for women who are pregnant. While medical experts recommend it as another layer of protection, there are women out there who are hesitant to receive the vaccine while pregnant. While this can be understandable, since the goal is to protect the baby, studies are continuing to show that the vaccine is safe and effective at protecting pregnant women and their babies. Especially since pregnant individuals are labeled as “high-risk” from the virus.According to Medical Xpress, a new study has shown that when a woman receives the vaccine while pregnant, the protection continues long after the baby is born. This is good news, since there is currently no approved vaccine for infants and young children.This study was done by the CDC, and its full guidelines can be read here. The study found that the vaccine during pregnancy can help prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations in infants 6 months and younger. The study looked at two groups of infants, 6 months and younger, who were admitted to the hospital.One group was admitted due to COVID-19, and the other was admitted for various other reasons. The researchers then looked at the vaccination status of the mother during her pregnancy to see if the vaccine had provided some protection. They found that the babies who were born to mothers who were vaccinated during pregnancy were protected for up to six months after birth.They were also able to provide an explanation as to how these babies were protected. When a woman is vaccinated during pregnancy, her body produces antibodies, and the antibodies are then passed through the umbilical cord to the baby.
Experts call this “passive immunization” and this is what is protecting the infants after birth. This is built on information that they have already known when looking at mothers who receive the TDAP vaccine while pregnant. It is the same idea, and it works the same way.
The researchers state that these findings are important because it is another reason why pregnant women should be receiving the vaccine.
Even when a vaccine becomes available for infants and toddlers, they cannot receive it until they are 6 months old, so they need some form of protection until they reach that age.
Sources: Medical Xpress, CDC