COVID-19 shots during pregnancy protect newborns from infection: study

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Covid-19 jabs in pregnancy protect newborns from infection, according to new research.

A study of more than 30,000 infants found two doses slashed the risk of infants testing positive during their first six months of life.

Case rates fell initially by 84 percent - dropping to 56 percent during the Delta dominant period.

But vaccinating moms-to-be was less effective against the Omicron strain.

Two doses reduced numbers by 21 percent for the first two months - and 13 percent by six months, reports New Scientist.

Lead author Dr. Ousseny Zerbo, of Kaiser Permanente in California, said: "Maternal vaccination was protective, but protection was lower during the Omicron period than during Delta.

"Protection during both periods decreased as infants aged from two months to six months.

"Overall, the study results support recommendations for vaccination during pregnancy to protect both mothers and their infants."

Over the entire study period, incidence of hospitalization during the first six months of life was also much lower among those whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy.

Dr. Zerbo said: "These results suggest in addition to providing protection against testing positive, vaccination during pregnancy also provides protection against severe disease in infants during their first six months of life."

The U.S. team analyzed 30,311 infants born between 15 December 2020 and 31 May 2022 in northern California. By 6 months old, 940 had tested positive for Covid-19.

They also found infants born to mothers who received one vaccine before and two in pregnancy during the Omicron period had an 89 percent lower risk of
infection in their first two months of life.

By six months old, they had a 48 percent lower risk. This suggests an additional dose during pregnancy could improve protection.

Babies aged under six months are not currently eligible for any Covid vaccines and must rely on any acquired immunity from their mothers on the womb.

Like flu jabs, data suggest vaccination during pregnancy may protect infants who are not old enough to be vaccinated themselves.

Dr. Zerbo said: "The finding that maternal vaccination was less effective at protecting infants during the Omicron dominant period is also consistent with previous studies which have reported decreased effectiveness of Covid vaccines during Omicron among children and adults."

Last year, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warned pregnancy puts women and their babies at higher risk.

Covid-19 can cause birth related complications - with potentially serious consequences for both mother and child.

Vaccination can be given at any stage. Mothers were advised not to wait until after their baby is born.

The study is published in Nature Communications.