DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICO-LIFE-SCIENCES
ISSN (P): 3007-2786, (E): 3007-2794 https://dmlsjournal.com/index.php/January2024/issue/view/april-2024
Page 8 of 19
Persistence And Efficacy of Maternal Covid-19 Vaccine-Induced Antibodies in Human Milk:
A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis
Neha Fatima
1*
, Syeda Nawal Fatima
2
, Nisha Noor
1
, Marium Khan
2
, Khadija Yahya
2
, Mustafa Rizwan
1
,
Mamoona Shuja
3
, Muhammad Nasir Shahbaz
4
1- Pharmacy Department, Lahore Medical & Dental College (LMDC), Lahore, Pakistan.
2- BDS, Lahore Medical & Dental College (LMDC), Lahore, Pakistan.
3- MBBS, Al-Aleem Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
4- Institute of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology (IMBB), CRIMM, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan.
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Neha Fatima, Email: Nuziha72@gmail.com , Cell: +92-3234904762
© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
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Abstract
Background: The ongoing global health challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a thorough
examination of vaccine efficacy, particularly the transfer of vaccine-induced immunity to infants via human milk.
This meta-analysis aims to explore the persistence and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine-induced antibodies in human
milk, offering insights into passive immunity transfer to breastfeeding infants.
Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies published from January
2021 to December 2023, extracted from databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Our focus was
on studies measuring SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (IgA and IgG) in human milk following maternal COVID-
19 vaccination.
Results: Fifteen studies involving 1,200 lactating mothers who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were
included. The analysis highlighted a consistent presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA and IgG antibodies in human
milk, persisting for up to six months post-vaccination.
Conclusion: The results highlight the noteworthy transmission of COVID-19 antibodies via human milk,
suggesting an extended duration of possible protection for neonates against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This argues
in Favor of immunizing nursing mothers as a preemptive public health strategy to provide their children passive
immunity.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; human milk; maternal vaccination; passive immunity;
breastfeeding; IgA; IgG; meta-analysis.
Received: 05/05/2024
Revised: 06/05/2024
Accepted: 06/05/2024
Published: 28/05/2024