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In a case series at two Boston medical centers, researchers assessed the strength and endurance of SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in newborns whose mothers were either vaccinated against COVID-19 (77 women) or infected with SARS-CoV-2 (12 women) between 20 and 32 weeks' gestation. (Transplacental antibody transfer is thought to be highest during this time period.) Anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were measured in cord blood at delivery and again in infants at 6 months.
Antibody titers in cord blood were significantly higher for vaccinated mothers than for mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2. More infants had detectable antibody titers at 6 months in the maternal-vaccination group (57%) than in the maternal-infection group (8%).
Shook LL et al. Durability of anti-spike antibodies in infants after maternal COVID-19 vaccination or natural infection. JAMA 2022 Feb 7; [e-pub]. (https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.1206)
Comment
Previous studies have shown a more robust and enduring antibody response from COVID-19 vaccination than from infection; this small case series adds similar findings for newborns who receive transplacental antibodies. The investigators could not assess clinical immunity, but we have strong evidence to encourage pregnant women to get vaccinated for both their benefit and their newborns' (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 15 2022 and JAMA 2022 Feb 7; [e-pub]), especially because vaccination is not currently planned for newborns younger than 6 months.