Mother Who Breastfed After Vaccination... COVID Antibodies Found in Baby's Stool

Detection of 'Immunoglobulin' That Produces Antibodies

Baby. Not related to the article. /Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A study has found that women vaccinated against COVID-19 can pass antibodies to their babies through breast milk.

On the 7th (local time), a research team from the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Massachusetts published findings in the international journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, reporting that babies who consumed breast milk from mothers vaccinated with messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines possessed COVID-19 antibodies.

The study involved 30 women breastfeeding their infants, who received mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer between January and April of last year. The women provided breast milk and blood samples to the researchers, and stool samples from the infants were collected 21 days after the second vaccination dose.

The results showed that immunoglobulins (Ig), proteins that act as antibodies to fight viruses, were detected in the babies. Immunoglobulins generate antibodies like IgG and IgA in response to COVID-19 infection or vaccination.

IgG and IgA were detected in 33% and 30% respectively in the stool samples of babies who consumed breast milk from vaccinated women.

Furthermore, antibodies neutralize the virus by binding first to the spike protein, which the COVID-19 virus uses to attach to human cell surface receptors such as ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) and purinergic receptors, thereby blocking viral entry into cells.

This neutralizing effect of breast milk was found to be due to IgG antibodies, which showed neutralizing activity not only against the COVID-19 spike protein but also against concerning variants such as Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.

Professor Kathleen Akaro of the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of Massachusetts stated, "This study demonstrates that antibodies are transmitted through breast milk," adding, "This strong evidence motivates women to continue breastfeeding even after receiving the vaccine."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.