According to a recent study from the university of Florida, the breast milk of breastfeeding moms who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 has a large number of antibodies that may help protect nursing children from the sickness.

The Children's Miracle Network financed the research, which was published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.
"Our findings show that vaccination causes a significant increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — in breast milk, implying that vaccinated mothers can pass on this immunity to their babies," said Joseph Larkin III, PhD, senior author of the study and an associate professor in the UF/IFAS department.

Babies' immune systems are undeveloped when they are born, making it difficult for them to battle illnesses on their own. According to Josef Neu, M.D., one of the study's  co-authors and a professor  at the UF college of Medicine's department of paediatrics,  division of neonatology, they are also frequently too young to respond properly to some types of vaccines. Breast milk helps nursing women to give "passive immunity" to their children during this sensitive phase, according to Neu.

"Consider breast milk as a toolbox with a variety of tools that assist the child in preparing for life. Vaccination provides another option to the arsenal, one that has the potential to be particularly effective in avoiding COVID-19 infection "Neu remarked. "Our findings clearly imply that vaccinations can help protect both mom and baby, which is yet another compelling reason for pregnant or lactating women to be vaccinated," says the researcher.