First Baby Born With COVID-19 Antibodies - Reports

A baby in Florida is reportedly the first baby born with COVID-19 antibodies. What do authorities say about this development? Find out here.

Mothers can pass COVID-19 antibodies to their newborn

Antibodies are proteins that are important for our immunity. They can identify and fight off pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. Essentially, if you have antibodies for a specific disease, you get a certain level of protection from it.

People who contracted the SARS-CoV2 infection develop antibodies for it. This is why health institutions are urging them to donate their blood plasma to other patients who are fighting the infection. With the recent vaccine rollout, more people are expected to develop antibodies, too.

Interestingly, various reports revealed that mothers who contracted COVID-19 at some point were able to transfer their SARS-CoV2 antibodies to their newborn babies. Now, it seems like babies born to vaccinated mothers can also have immunity from the COVID-19 infection.

US reports the first baby born with COVID-19 antibodies

A healthcare worker from Florida US received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on the 36^th week of her pregnancy. Three weeks later, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. To their surprise, scientific investigators noted that her daughter was born with the anti-bodies against SARS-CoV2 infection.

Doctors are positive this is the first-ever reported case of a baby born with COVID-19 antibodies.

Authorities explained that they took the blood sample from the baby’s umbilical cord immediately after her birth and before the placental delivery.

This means that the COVID-19 antibodies were present at the time of the baby’s delivery.

Implications

A baby born with COVID-19 antibodies is a huge development, according to many health experts.

For one, it could mean that babies born from women who receive the vaccine during their pregnancy will be protected from the COVID-19 infection. This is crucial, seeing that newborn babies are part of the most vulnerable population.

Secondly, this further supports that it is safe for pregnant women to get vaccinated. However, since this is early data, researchers agree that we need more studies.

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Pregnant women are at risk of severe infection

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) continues to remind pregnant women that they are among those at risk of developing a severe COVID infection.

This means that, compared to non-pregnant people, they are more likely to require intensive care confinement and mechanical ventilation use. Additionally, contracting the infection during pregnancy increases the risk for complications, like preterm birth.

For these reasons, expectant moms must avoid getting the SARS-CoV2 infection. But can pregnant women safely receive the vaccine just like the healthcare worker from Florida did?

What we know about the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women

As much as it’s good news for a baby to be born with COVID-19 antibodies, we still need more studies to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the COVID vaccine for pregnant women.

Investigations for these, according to the CDC, are “underway or planned.” So far, manufacturers are collecting data from vaccine recipients who later got pregnant. Furthermore, animal studies from Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech, and Johnson & Johnson Janssen during pregnancy “show no safety concern.”

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Should you get vaccinated?

Pregnant women can receive a COVID-19 vaccine; in fact, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests that SARS-CoV2 vaccines “should not be withheld from pregnant individuals.”

However, the woman must discuss her decision to receive the shot with her doctor. Some of the things they need to consider are the:

• Level of activity of the virus in the community.
• Safety and potential effectiveness of the vaccine they plan to receive.
• Possible effects of contracting COVID-19 of both mom and baby

Key Takeaways

• US reported the first baby born with COVID-19 antibodies; her mother received the first dose of Moderna vaccine while she was pregnant.
• Pregnant women are among those who are at risk of developing severe infections.
• Studies about the COVID vaccine and pregnancy are “underway or planned.’
• Expectant moms can receive the vaccine but should discuss it thoroughly with their doctor.

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