Write a PREreview

Increase in SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific IgA and IgG Antibodies in Human Milk from Lactating Women Following the COVID-19 Booster Vaccination

by Andrea M. Henle

Posted: February 24, 2022
Server: medRxiv
DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.23.22271414

The CDC recommended a booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty (BNT162b2) COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in September 2021 for high-risk individuals. Pregnant and high-risk lactating women were encouraged to receive the booster to obtain potential prolonged protection for themselves and their infants. This study investigated the ability of the booster vaccine to increase IgA and IgG antibodies specific to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in human milk compared to levels pre-booster. We found a significant increase in both anti-RBD-specific IgA and IgG antibodies in human milk 1-2 weeks after the Pfizer-BioNTech booster and at the study endpoint (60 days post-booster). These results suggest the booster vaccination enhances SARS-CoV-2 specific immunity in human breast milk, which may be protective for infants.

Key Points

Abs to SARS-COV-2 RBD are detected in blood ≥60 days post-Pfizer-BioNTech booster.
Human milk Abs to SARS-COV-2 RBD are higher ≥60 days post-booster vs pre-booster.

You can write a PREreview of Increase in SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific IgA and IgG Antibodies in Human Milk from Lactating Women Following the COVID-19 Booster Vaccination. A PREreview is a review of a preprint and can vary from a few sentences to a lengthy report, similar to a journal-organized peer-review report.

Before you start

We will ask you to log in with your ORCID iD. If you don’t have an iD, you can create one.