Home Family Practice Moms’ Prior Flu Vaccine Doesn’t Weaken Newborns’ Benefit

Moms’ Prior Flu Vaccine Doesn’t Weaken Newborns’ Benefit

Initial antibody response may weaken with more vaccines, but benefits at delivery not affected

FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of influenza vaccine the previous year predicts higher baseline antibody titers and decreased peak antibody responses against all influenza strains in pregnant women, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in Vaccine.

Lisa M. Christian, Ph.D., from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and colleagues measured influenza antibody titers in 141 pregnant women via the hemagglutination inhibition assay prior to receipt of quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine, 30 days after vaccination, and at delivery, at which time cord blood titers were also measured.

The researchers found that, compared to the 50 women with no vaccination in the previous year, the 91 women vaccinated the prior year exhibited higher baseline antibody titers and/or seroprotection rates against all four influenza strains, after controlling for covariates. Lower peak antibody responses and seroconversion rates at one month after vaccination were also predicted by prior vaccination. There were no significant differences in antibody titers or seroprotection rates in women or newborns at delivery.

“In this cohort of pregnant women, receipt of influenza vaccine the previous year predicted higher baseline antibody titers and decreased peak antibody responses against all influenza strains,” the authors write.

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