Maternal and child outcomes reported by breastfeeding women following administration of messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccination

27/09/2021

On 31 August, a cross-sectional observational study was published on breastfeeding women residing in the United States who received either of the two messenger RNA vaccines (Pfizer or Moderna) and who were enrolled in the Mommy's Milk Human Milk Research Biorepository at the University of California, San Diego. The data from 14 December 2020 to 1 February 2021 were analyzed; during that period, 180 women who received two doses of one of the two mRNA vaccines were recruited. Women receiving the Pfizer and those receiving the Moderna reported, in similar proportions, one or more symptoms following vaccination. However, following the second dose of vaccine, women who received the Moderna vaccine were significantly more likely to report symptoms. 

Following the first dose of either vaccine, a small proportion of women reported a reduction in milk supply and significantly more women reported a reduction in milk supply following the second dose of Moderna. Few infant events were reported for either vaccine following either dose, and no serious adverse events were reported. The authors concluded that the data are reassuring regarding the safety of vaccination in breastfeeding women and their breastfed children with either of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Source: Kerri Bertrand, Gordon Honerkamp-Smith, and Christina D. Chambers. Maternal and Child Outcomes Reported by Breastfeeding Women Following Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccination. BREASTFEEDING MEDICINE Volume 16, Number 9, 2021. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2021.0169. 

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