Many mothers-to-be are hesitant to get vaccinated against the new crown, fearing that the vaccine will have adverse effects on their babies.
A new study by the Chinese University School of Medicine, in collaboration with Spanish researchers, assessed the changes in the level and activity of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in breast milk over time.
The results showed that the antibodies in the breast milk of women who have completed the vaccination will disappear five to six months after the first dose of the vaccine, and the booster dose of the vaccine will help to re-activate the new crown antibodies and provide protection for young babies.
The findings have been published in the medical journal Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
▼On May 30th, citizens rushed to take the third vaccine to cope with the vaccine pass▼
+1
Antibodies of expectant mothers can be passed on to their young children through breast milk. In the past, international studies have confirmed that postpartum women can pass new coronavirus antibodies to their children through breastfeeding, regardless of whether they are infected with the new crown virus or vaccinated against the new crown virus, providing a certain degree of protection.
Dr. Leung Hsiao-ru, Clinical Lecturer of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, said that he often receives inquiries from mothers who wonder if they should breastfeed after being infected with the new coronavirus or vaccinated. In fact, expectant mothers should breastfeed.
Studies have confirmed that both of the above-mentioned conditions produce high levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in breast milk, which can allow infants and young children who cannot be vaccinated to ingest antibodies to fight the new coronavirus.
Prof. Poon Chiu-yee (left), Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, and Dr. Leung Hsiao-ru, a clinical lecturer, both pointed out that a third injection of a mother's breast milk can increase the antibodies against the novel coronavirus in breast milk.
The research team recruited 26 postpartum women for the study and collected their breast milk samples.
Eighteen of them had been infected with the new crown, and the other eight had received at least two doses of the new crown vaccine.
None of the participants in the infected group were vaccinated during the study period.
The results showed that the levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in the breast milk of the participants increased rapidly after infection or after vaccination; after reaching the peak, the levels of IgA and the ability of the antibodies to bind cells gradually decreased over time in both groups of participants.
The study also found that antibodies fell to undetectable levels about 150 days after the first dose of the new crown vaccine.
A vaccine booster, the third dose of the vaccine, is effective in maintaining neutralizing IgA secretion in breast milk.
Prof. Pan Zhaoyi, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK, said that relevant studies have shown that vaccination with a new crown vaccine booster can effectively stimulate the secretion of neutralizing antibodies in breast milk.
This suggests that vaccination is important for maintaining the level of neutralizing antibodies in breast milk, which can provide protection for infants and young children.
Epidemic ｜The number of confirmed cases exceeds 1,047 cases in 4 residential homes, and 10 people in Kwun Tong Residential Care Homes for the Disabled have been recruited. Several groups of Lin Zheng admit that the epidemic has rebounded and call on Father's Day to reduce the epidemic of cross-family gatherings｜For two consecutive days, three people in K1 class of Canaan Kindergarten in Qianfurong Garden were diagnosed with the epidemic and had to suspend classes
