Jahnavi Sarma
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Written By: Jahnavi Sarma | Updated : August 26, 2021 12:17 PM IST
The immune system of babies is underdeveloped and they are often not able to fight off infections on their own.
Since the COVID-19 vaccination programmes started, there has been an ongoing debate among scientists about whether it is safe to inoculate lactating moms against the virus. In fact, this debate started even before the vaccines reached the market. Gradually, it was deemed safe for breastfeeding women. But now, for the first time, a new study from the University of Florida reveals the precise benefits that these vaccines hold for new moms and their babies. According to the researchers of this study, the breast milk of vaccinated lactating mothers shows a substantial supply of antibodies which may protect nursing infants from COVID-19 infection. This is published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.
According to the researchers who conducted this study, there is a vigorous antibody response in the blood and breast milk especially after the second dose of the vaccine is administered. To be precise, they say that there is almost a hundred-fold increase when compared with levels before inoculation. This is much higher than the response observed after natural infection with the virus.
On the basis of the findings of the study, researchers say that vaccines can definitely protect both mother and the baby against infection. They give the results of the study as a compelling reason for all pregnant or lactating women to get vaccinated since vaccination results in a major increase in antibodies against the virus and vaccinated mothers can pass on this immunity to their babies.
The immune system of babies is underdeveloped and they are often not able to fight off infections on their own. This leaves them vulnerable at times like this. Moreover, there are no vaccines for babies and there may not be one for a long time to time. This is because babies are too young to respond adequately to certain types of vaccines. In this vulnerable state, breast milk can provide them with protection in the form of "passive immunity", which mothers pass on to them via breast milk.
According to the researchers, we can look at breast milk as a toolbox that contains various tools to prepare the infant for life. Vaccination can be looked at as another tool in this toolbox, which can prevent the COVID-19 illness. However, the researchers are conducting further studies to understand how exactly breast milk, which contains COVID-19 antibodies via vaccination, protects babies who consume it. They are also studying to see how long these antibodies are present in breast milk and how effective they are at neutralising the virus.
(With inputs from IANS)
