Pump and Dump for 48 hours post-COVID-10 vaccination?
Article Title: Detection of Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Human Breast Milk
Journal: JAMA Pediatrics
Article Highlights Below.
Brief research letter and accompanying figures are here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2796427
Main Takeaway:
Pumping and dumping may be prudent to recommend in the first 48 hours post COVID-19 vaccination for breastfeeding patients until more safety data is available.
Why?
Safety concerns based on transference of vaccine mRNA to infants in human breastmilk in this study and previous experiments confirming translocation of vaccine mRNA to distant tissues including the brain and heart in murine models.
Quotable Droplet with the most kCals per mL:
“We believe it is safe to breastfeed after maternal COVID-19 vaccination. However, caution is warranted about breastfeeding children younger than 6 months in the first 48 hours after maternal vaccination until more safety studies are conducted.” (Hanna, et al., 2022)
A few more details:
A cohort study of 11 women < 6 months postpartum assayed fractionated milk samples via qRT-PCR from 1 hour to 5 days post Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine administration.
Vaccine mRNA was found in the mother’s breastmilk. The earliest time point was 1 and 3 h (Pfizer) and the latest was 45 hours (Moderna). The mRNA was found in whole milk and Extracellular Vesicles (EVs).
The authors note that previous data in murine models shows vaccine mRNA in the “heart, lung, testis, and brain tissues, indicating tissue biodistribution” (Hanna et al., 2022; European Medicines Agency, 2021 Assessment report: COVID-19 vaccine Moderna.)
The authors posit transport of the vaccine mRNA in the lipid nanoparticles via blood or lymphatic circulation to the mammary glands and then further packaging into EVs and secretion in the breastmilk.
Citation details
Article Title: Detection of Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Human Breast Milk
Authors: Nazeeh Hanna, MD1; Ari Heffes-Doon, MD1; Xinhua Lin, PhD2; Claudia Manzano De Mejia, MD2; Bishoy Botros, BS2; Ellen Gurzenda, BS2; Amrita Nayak, MD1
Journal: JAMA Pediatrics
Publication Date: Sept 26, 2022
Hanna N, Heffes-Doon A, Lin X, et al. Detection of Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Human Breast Milk. JAMA Pediatr. Published online September 26, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2022.3581
European Medicines Agency. Assessment report: COVID-19 vaccine Moderna. Published March 11, 2021. http://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/assessment-report/spikevax-previously-covid-19-vaccine-moderna-epar-public-assessment-report_en.pdf.
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Prepared by Dena Duran
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