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Int J Infect Dis
. 2022 Jul 5;S1201-9712(22)00392-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.055. Online ahead of print.
Serum and breastmilk SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies following BNT162b2 vaccine: Prolonged protection from SARS-CoV-2 in newborns and older children
Alessandra Ricciardi 1 , Paola Zelini 2 , Irene Cassaniti 3 , Maria Antonietta Avanzini 4 , Marta Colaneri 5 , Annalisa De Silvestri 6 , Fausto Baldanti 3 , Raffaele Bruno 5
Affiliations
- PMID: 35803470
- PMCID: PMC9254442
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.055
Abstract
Background: Vaccination is the best strategy to contrast coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).We aimed to determine antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in breastmilk and serum of mothers vaccinated with mRNA vaccine.
Methods: this prospective study included 18 lactating women vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine. Serum and breastmilk were collected before the first dose (T0), at second dose (T1), 3 weeks (T2) and 6 months later (T3). Serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) IgG and IgA were measured by a semi-quantitative ELISA, secretory antibody (s) IgG and IgA in breastmilk by a quantitative analysis.
Results: we detected serum anti-S IgG and IgA in all women after vaccination. Specific IgG and IgA were higher at T1, T2 and T3 compared to T0 (p<0.0001). Higher antibody levels were observed at T2, lower values were observed at T3 vs T2 (p=0.007). After six months, all patients had serum IgG but 3 out of 18 (16%) had serum IgA. In breastmilk, sIgA were present at T1 and T2 and decreased after six months at T3 (p=0.002). Breastmilk sIgG levels increased at T1 and T2 and peaked at T3 (p=0.008).
Conclusion: secretory antibodies were transmitted through breastmilk until 6 months after anti COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. Protection of the newborn through breastfeeding need to be addressed.
Keywords: breastmilk; immune response; vaccine.