Covid-19 jabs given to pregnant women protect newborns from infection, according to new research.
A study of more than 30,000 infants found two doses reduced the risk of infants testing positive during their first six months of life. Case rates fell initially by 84 per cent – dropping to 56 per cent during the Delta dominant period.
But vaccinating mums-to-be was less effective against the Omicron strain. Two doses reduced numbers by 21 per cent for the first two months – and 13 per cent 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 hospitalisation during the first six months of life was also much lower among those whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. Dr Zerbo added: “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 US team analysed 30,311 infants born between 15 December 2020 and 31 May 2022 in northern California. By six 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 per cent lower risk of infection in their first two months of life.
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By six months old, they had a 48 per cent lower risk. This suggests an additional dose in 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 Gynaecologists 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.
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