Pregnant patients who get the coronavirus vaccine pass along some of the immune system protections to the fetus, giving the newborn child some antibodies against the disease, CBS News reports. In its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the CDC found the pass-along vaccination 54% effective in preventing hospitalizations, with effectiveness dropping to about 35% in infants 3- to 5-months old.
Scientists have long understood the ability of a pregnant patient to pass along vaccine protections to fetuses and thus, to newborns. Doctors recommend pregnant patients get vaccinated for things like whooping cough and RSV to boost the offspring’s systems.
Hospitalization rates have increased in all age groups since mid July. Hospitalization rates remain highest in older adults and in young infants, less than six months of age,” the CDC’s Dr. Fiona Havers said, noting that “most children under 5, hospitalized with COVID-19 illness, have no underlying medical conditions.”