Levels of Neutralizing Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Mothers and Neonates after Vaccination during Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Maternal vaccination is safe and provides protection against COVID-19 in mothers and neonates, and it is necessary to evaluate its effect on the induction of immune responses through the levels of neutralizing antibodies present in maternal and neonatal blood. Methods: An observational study with transversal analysis was carried out. Included in the research were neonates (<1 month) whose mothers had been immunized whilst pregnant with at least one dose of the vaccine BNT16b and had not shown any symptoms of COVID-19. The blood of the mothers and newborns was collected during the Guthrie test and sent to the laboratory for the detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Results: A total of 162 pairs of mothers and neonates were analyzed with an average age of 26.3 ± 5.97 years and 13.4 ± 6.90 days, respectively. All samples collected present neutralizing antibodies with an average percentage of 91% in the mothers and 92% in the neonates. The most satisfactory immune response was observed in neonates and mothers vaccinated during the second trimester of gestation. Conclusions: The vaccination of expectant mothers with the immunizer BNT162b2 has promoted a robust immunological response in both the mothers and the neonates.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• maternal immunization
• neutralizing antibodies
• SARS-CoV-2
• BNT162b2