Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 13, 2021

SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies in Breast Milk After COVID-19 Vaccination of Breastfeeding Women

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  • Vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies were found in a high proportion of breastmilk samples obtained up to 6 weeks post-vaccination from breastfeeding women in a cohort study in Israel (n=84,504 total samples). IgA antibody positivity peaked at 86% of samples at week 4 (1 week after second dose) and remained at 66% by week 6. IgG antibody levels remained low for the first 3 weeks but increased after week 4, with 97% of samples testing positive by weeks 5 and 6. No mother or infant experienced any serious adverse event during the study period. Consistent with other studies, more women reported a vaccine-related adverse event following the second dose compared to the first (62% vs 56%).

Perl et al. (Apr 12, 2021). SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies in Breast Milk After COVID-19 Vaccination of Breastfeeding Women. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2021.5782