American scientists of the University of Duke (North Carolina) conducted a study that showed that pregnant and lactating women fall immunity in response to the first dose of vaccine from coronavirus. Its results are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
According to the researchers, after the first dose of the MODERNA vaccine and the drug from Pfizer and Biontech, pregnant and lactating women have problems – the titer of antibodies decreased and the weaker immune response began to be observed in comparison with women who were not pregnant in the last time. However, after a complete passage of vaccination, the differences between non-death, nursing and pregnant women were minimal. In addition, lactating women had an increased number of NK cells, which, among other things, are responsible for the operation of congenital immunity.
Each of the nursing and pregnant women who participated in the study made vaccinations against COVID-19 in the last trimester, which, according to scientists, could affect the reduced immune response after the first dose of the drug. “These results imply that vaccination at earlier stages of pregnancy and the booster dose will later help maximize the transmission of antibodies through the placenta and breast milk,” scientists told.
Previously, researchers from the University Hospital of Liege in Belgium said that adults and children are equally susceptible to COVID-19 infection, but children are almost four times more chances to transfer coronavirus asymptomatic. At the same time, adults often transmit the virus to other peers, while children are infected from other children.