PREGNANT women who have been vaccinated pass on high levels of Covid busting antibodies to their babies, a new study shows.
According to the ground breaking research, women who have taken the Pfizer or Moderna jabs were found to pass on the protective antibodies.
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Scientists from New York University took blood samples from 36 babies delivered from mums given either of the vaccines, Bloomberg reports.
All had antibodies to protect against Covid-19 after their mums had been vaccinated, the study found.
The research is one of the first to measure antibody levels in umbilical cord blood to distinguish whether immunity is from infection or vaccines.
“We didn’t anticipate that. We expected to see more variability,” said Ashley Roman, an obstetrician at NYU Langone Health System and co-author of the study.
“We pushed this data out relatively early because it’s a unique finding and it has important implications for care.
“Right now we’re recommending all pregnant women receive the vaccine for maternal benefit.”
The study was published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology – Maternal Fetal Medicine on Wednesday.
Among the 36 samples the researchers looked at, 31 tested negative for antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein.
In other words, 31 pregnant women developed immunity from the vaccine.
Given the study’s small sample size, the team is now looking at results from a larger group, as well as how long immunisation lasts for infants after birth.
Women in Britain have been eligible for the vaccine at the same time as the rest of their age group since April.
It is hoped the findings will encourage more pregnant women to get vaccinated as many have shown a reluctance to get the Covid jab.
The most recent data from Public Health England shows just 10 per cent come forward for an appointment by the end of July.
Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, urged pregnant women to get vaccinated.
“We recommend vaccination in pregnancy as it’s the most effective way of protecting women and their babies from severe illness and premature birth.
“We are concerned that increasing rates of Covid infection will adversely impact pregnant women.”
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