Pregnant women who develop COVID-19 antibodies often 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 transmitted through the placenta in 72 of 83 infected or previously infected pregnant women, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Pediatrics study published Friday.
“Our findings demonstrate the potential of maternal SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies to provide neonatal protection against 2019 coronavirus disease,” the study said.
Babies born to COVID-19 positive mothers did not develop infection, and 60 percent of the women with antibodies to the coronavirus reported no symptoms, according to the researchers.
The finding also recommends that expectant mothers should also be vaccinated against other viruses such as influenza so that they can protect themselves and their babies.