Comparing Human Milk Antibody Response After 4 Different Vaccines for COVID-19
Hannah G. Juncker, Sien J. Mulleners, Esmée R. M. Coenen, Johannes B. van Goudoever, Marit J. van Gils, Britt J. van Keulen
Abstract
COVID-19 usually has a mild course in children; however, newborns and infants are more susceptible to severe disease. 1 Human milk is suggested to play an important role to protect against infections, mostly owing to disease-specific antibodies. 2 Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are present in the human milk of previously infected women, 3 as well as following vaccination with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, 4 and are capable of neutralizing the virus. Because maternal vaccination during lactation may protect not only the mother but also her breastfed infant, knowledge of its effect is important to guide health care workers and lactating women in decision-making regarding SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Therefore, this study aims to compare the antibody response in human milk after vaccination with mRNA-based and vector-based vaccines.