Baby born to partially vaccinated mother found to have COVID antibodies

A type of birth that we would have to get used to? In Palm Beach County, Florida, a baby was born with antibodies for COVID-19 after her mother was vaccinated during her pregnancy, local broadcaster WPBF reports. This would be the first case in the world, explain Drs. Paul Gilbert and Chad Rudnick, in an article published in MedRxiv.

Antibody transmission

The mother received asingle doseof the Moderna mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), three weeks before the baby was due. She is a 'front line' healthcare professional.

We tested the baby's umbilical cord to see if the mother's antibodies are passed on to the baby.

Indeed, this phenomenon, the transmission of antibodies between mother and baby may occur during the injection of other vaccines, such as that against influenza and DTP. And the two doctors had the right instincts, since a certain amount of antibodies against Covid19 was detected.

Protection still unknown

These results must be taken with care for the moment. The article specifies that the real effectiveness of protecting the newborn against the disease remains at this stage unknown, as well as the 'ideal time' for the pregnant mother to be vaccinated.

In November 2020, there were reports that a Singaporean baby was also born with antibodies against COVID-19. Her mother had contracted the disease while she was pregnant, during her holiday in Europe in March 2020.