Health
Long-term immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination is unaffected by pregnancy
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The long-term immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination was similar in pregnant individuals compared with non-pregnant individuals of reproductive age, according to a study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. The similarity in protection is noteworthy, given that pregnancy alters the immune system, and potentially the response to vaccination.
The findings, published Nov. 2 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM, add further support to current recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at any point during pregnancy, including booster doses after the initial two-dose series, to help protect pregnant people from severe COVID-19. The researchers also found that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination during pregnancy transferred protection to unborn babies, an essential benefit since babies must be at least six months old to receive their first COVID-19 vaccination.
“We and others have shown mRNA vaccination results in a strong initial immune response in pregnant individuals but the longer-term protection was unclear,” said co-lead study author Dr. Yawei Jenny Yang, assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and a pathologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “We believe our study is unique in that it longitudinally evaluates the longer-term immunity in pregnant and non-pregnant individuals up to 10 months after their first two SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines.”
For their study, which involved extensive collaboration among multiple departments, Dr. Yang and colleagues collected and analyzed blood samples from 53 pregnant and 21 non-pregnant individuals receiving care at Weill Cornell Medicine who received their first two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine between Dec. 2020 and June 2021. The vaccines targeted the original Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2, and no study participants had ever had COVID-19. Researchers collected blood at the time of the first and second vaccine doses, two weeks after the second dose and at regular intervals over 42 weeks.
The investigators found that the vaccination resulted in robust levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies specific to the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2, called anti-spike IgG antibodies, the most abundant, potent and longest-lasting antibodies the immune system makes after mRNA vaccination. The antibodies bind to the virus and attack it directly or block it from infecting cells.
The study results showed that anti-spike IgG antibody levels were similar in pregnant and non-pregnant individuals. The peak immune response to vaccination occurred about two weeks after vaccination, regardless of when vaccination was initiated during pregnancy. The quantities of these antibodies declined at a similar rate in pregnant and non-pregnant individuals, down to 64 to 77 percent of peak by about six to eight months after vaccination. This finding further supports the benefits of booster doses for maintaining optimal protection against COVID-19, regardless of pregnancy status.
Additionally, Dr. Yang and colleagues found anti-spike IgG antibodies in cord blood from the vaccinated pregnant individuals who gave birth at NewYork-Presbyterian Alexandra Cohen Hospital for Women and Newborns, confirming earlier reports of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination passing on strong protection to babies. “We are grateful to the participants who enrolled in the study so they could help others,” she said.
“Early in the pandemic, clinicians recommended vaccination based on the need to protect pregnant individuals from the devastating effects of COVID-19,” said senior study author Dr. Laura Riley, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Given Foundation Professor in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine and obstetrician and gynecologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Now we can definitively say that following vaccination, pregnant individuals mount as robust an immune response as non-pregnant individuals. Our data, and the accumulated research on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant individuals, indicate the vaccines protect pregnant individuals from the effects of COVID and protect their babies as well.”
“We hope our findings encourage more pregnant individuals to get vaccinated,” she said.
Many Weill Cornell Medicine physicians and scientists maintain relationships and collaborate with external organizations to foster scientific innovation and provide expert guidance. The institution makes these disclosures public to ensure transparency. For this information, see profile for Dr. Riley.
Journal
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
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Health
CFIA continues surveillance for HPAI in cattle, while sticking with original name for disease – RealAgriculture
The Canada Food Inspection Agency will continue to refer to highly pathogenic avian influenza in cattle as HPAI in cattle, and not refer to it as bovine influenza A virus (BIAV), as suggested by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners earlier this month.
Dr. Martin Appelt, senior director for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in the interview below, says at this time Canada will stick with “HPAI in cattle” when referencing the disease that’s been confirmed in dairy cattle in multiple states in the U.S.
The CFIA’s naming policy is consistent with the agency’s U.S. counterparts’, as the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has also said it will continue referring to it as HPAI or H5N1.
Appelt explains how the CFIA is learning from the U.S. experience to-date, and how it is working with veterinarians across Canada to stay vigilant for signs of the disease in dairy and beef cattle.
As of April 19, there has not been a confirmed case of HPAI in cattle in Canada. Appelt says it’s too soon to say if an eventual positive case will significantly restrict animal movement, as is the case with positive poultry cases.
This is a major concern for the cattle industry, as beef cattle especially move north and south across the U.S. border by the thousands. Appelt says that CFIA will address an infection in each species differently in conjunction with how the disease is spread and the threat to neighbouring farms or livestock.
Currently, provincial dairy organizations have advised producers to postpone any non-essential tours of dairy barns, as a precaution, in addition to other biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of cattle contracting HPAI.
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Health
Toronto reports 2 more measles cases. Use our tool to check the spread in Canada – Toronto Star
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Canada has seen a concerning rise in measles cases in the first months of 2024.
By the third week of March, the country had already recorded more than three times the number of cases as all of last year. Canada had just 12 cases of measles in 2023, up from three in 2022.
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Cancer Awareness Month
Posted on: Apr 18, 2024
April is Cancer Awareness Month
As we recognize Cancer Awareness Month, we stand together to raise awareness, support those affected, advocate for prevention, early detection, and continued research towards a cure. Cancer is the leading cause of death for Métis women and the second leading cause of death for Métis men. The Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation Within Alberta is working hard to ensure that available supports for Métis Citizens battling cancer are culturally appropriate, comprehensive, and accessible by Métis Albertans at all stages of their cancer journey.
Receiving a cancer diagnosis, whether for yourself or a loved one, can feel overwhelming, leaving you unsure of where to turn for support. In June, our government will be launching the Cancer Supports and Navigation Program which will further support Métis Albertans and their families experiencing cancer by connecting them to OMG-specific cancer resources, external resources, and providing navigation support through the health care system. This program will also include Métis-specific peer support groups for those affected by cancer.
With funding from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) we have also developed the Métis Cancer Care Course to ensure that Métis Albertans have access to culturally safe and appropriate cancer services. This course is available to cancer care professionals across the country and provides an overview of who Métis people are, our culture, our approaches to health and wellbeing, our experiences with cancer care, and our cancer journey.
Together, we can make a difference in the fight against cancer and ensure equitable access to culturally safe and appropriate care for all Métis Albertans. Please click on the links below to learn more about the supports available for Métis Albertans, including our Compassionate Care: Cancer Transportation program.
I wish you all good health and happiness!
Bobbi Paul-Alook
Secretary of Health & Seniors
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