Recent research from Norway indicates that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can offer significant protection against the virus for newborns. This study highlights that getting a second or third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine while expecting can extend the immunity of infants for at least four months.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study monitored 9,739 infants born to mothers who received their vaccinations during pregnancy, comparing them to 11,904 infants whose mothers did not get vaccinated. The findings reveal that babies whose mothers were vaccinated faced a 71% lower risk of testing positive for COVID-19 during the Delta variant surge and a 33% lower risk during the Omicron surge. Although the research was conducted in Norway, the authors believe that these results are applicable to other populations, supported by similar findings from studies conducted in the U.S.
Dr. Lisa Johnson, a researcher from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, commented on the potential for longer-lasting protection, stating, “There may still be antibody benefits extending beyond the initial four months, but this can vary from person to person.” Additionally, while the study did not specifically address breastmilk, the authors suggested that mothers could provide extra protection to their infants through breastfeeding.
It’s also important to note that while COVID-19 infections in infants were rare, with hospitalization rates at just 0.07% in both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, this information empowers parents to help protect their newborns until they are eligible for vaccination themselves—something that may be available soon.
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