A recent study sheds light on the increased likelihood of respiratory distress in newborns whose unvaccinated parents contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy, according to findings published this week.
Led by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, the study examined 221 pregnant individuals, with 151 being unvaccinated before testing positive for COVID-19. All 151 unvaccinated individuals met the National Institutes of Health criteria for severe or critical COVID-19, while only 4% of the 70 vaccinated pregnant individuals met the same criteria.
Analyzing 199 babies born between April 2020 and August 2022, the researchers found no cases of COVID-19 infection among the infants. However, they observed a concerning link between in utero exposure to COVID-19 and an increased risk of respiratory distress in newborns. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, revealed that the odds of respiratory distress were up to three times higher in babies born to unvaccinated parents compared to those born to vaccinated parents.
Dr. Karin Nielsen, a professor of pediatrics at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, emphasized the significance of vaccination in protecting against this complication. The study indicates that exposure to COVID-19 during pregnancy may activate inflammatory pathways in the airways of newborns, particularly impacting the function of cilia, tiny hair-like structures on cell surfaces.
While the research underscores the importance of maternal vaccination in preventing both maternal disease severity and neonatal respiratory distress, the study acknowledges limitations such as a small and homogenous sample size. Further research is essential to validate these findings and assess the impact of COVID-19 on respiratory distress when considering other contributing factors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently advocates COVID-19 vaccination for all pregnant individuals, citing safety assurances for babies born to vaccinated parents. As the study prompts further exploration, it reinforces the importance of vaccination in safeguarding both maternal and neonatal health.
