Pregnant women who develop COVID-19 antibodies frequently transfer them to their babies in the womb, a new study shows.
More than 1,400 mothers and newborns were studied, and researchers found that antibodies were transferred across the placenta in 72 of 83 infected or previously infected pregnant women, according to the JAMA Pediatrics Journal of American Medical Association study published Friday. market.
“Our findings demonstrate the potential for specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 derived from the mother to provide neonatal protection against coronavirus disease in 2019,” says the study.
Babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers did not develop infection and 60 percent of women who had antibodies to the coronavirus reported no symptoms, according to the researchers.
The finding also recommends that pregnant mothers should also be vaccinated against other viruses, such as the flu, so they can protect themselves and their babies.