Pregnancy reduces COVID-19 vaccine immunity against novel variants.

ABSTRACT: Pregnant women are at heightened risk for severe outcomes from infectious diseases like COVID-19, yet were not included in initial vaccine trials, which may contribute to low booster uptake (15% or lower). We explored the serological and cellular responses to COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccines (i.e., ancestral and BA.5) in pregnant and age-matched, non-pregnant females to identify how pregnancy affects immunity against the vaccine and novel variants. Antibodies from pregnant women were less cross-reactive to non-vaccine antigens, including XBB.1.5 and JN.1. Non-pregnant females showed greater IgG1:IgG3 ratios and neutralization against all variants. In contrast, pregnant women had lower IgG1:IgG3 ratios and neutralization but increased antibody-dependent NK cell cytokine production and neutrop

SUBMITTER: Parish MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12350772 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature