Power of maternal vaccination: How 'Born Ready' enhances infant protection through nature

Infant protection has always started in the womb. It is a natural instinct for a mother to shield her child. She does this through consuming essential nutrients, limiting exposure to harmful substances, and taking precautionary measures to avoid illness. How a mother cares for her child in the womb greatly impacts an infant’s survival rate. This instinct has inspired scientists for centuries to explore ways to reduce infant mortality leading to the advancement of maternal vaccination.

“Maternal vaccines have played an instrumental role in infant protection since the 1800s, when it was first observed that babies born to women vaccinated against smallpox during pregnancy were immune in early life. Since then, pharmaceutical leaders have invested heavily in expanding the range of maternal vaccines while continuously prioritizing the safety of both mother and child,” said Dr. Hammam Haridy, Regional Medical Director at Pfizer. “One key area of focus is the maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine. Globally, there are an estimated 6.6 million cases of RSV annually in infants less than six months of age, with approximately 45,000 dying each year from complications associated with the infection. Leveraging years of vaccine expertise and new scientific discoveries, we have pioneered a vaccine with the potential to harness a mother’s natural ability to provide protection to growing babies.”

How maternal vaccines work

“A mother naturally starts passing disease-fighting antibodies to her unborn child in the second trimester, and this transfer peaks in the final trimester. Maternal vaccines leverage this natural process, providing a boost to the levels of antibodies to shield infants during the first months of life before they are eligible to receive vaccines directly,” explained Prof. Irene Cetin, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Milan and Head of Obstetrics at Mangiagalli Policlinico Hospital. “This transfer of antibodies from mother to fetus is so efficient that by the time a baby is born at full term, the concentration of antibodies in the baby’s blood is often even higher than in the mother’s.”

According to Prof. Hossam Al Tatari, Director of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services at The Heart Medical Center in Al-Ain, maternal vaccines continue to safeguard infants beyond the womb through the milk produced by a vaccinated mother. “The maternal immune system is stimulated when a mother receives a vaccine during pregnancy. This results in the transfer of antibodies to the fetus through the placenta from the maternal bloodstream. These antibodies continue to be secreted in colostrum and milk, and are transferred to the infant postpartum via breastfeeding[i] [ii] [iii],” he said.

The impact of maternal vaccines

Maternal vaccines, including the RSV vaccine, have the potential to make a significant, positive global health impact and can help reduce infant morbidity and mortality rates associated with related diseases.  “Vaccines are one of the greatest public health advancements of all time, resulting in the control, eradication, or near-elimination of numerous infectious diseases that were once pervasive and often fatal. Maternal vaccines protect both the mother and child from illnesses like RSV[iv]. Both mother and child are at a fragile stage in life, and the safe consumption of certain medications during this time is limited. Preventing and reducing the impact of these diseases from the outset with vaccinations can help navigate the dangers and risks associated with these diseases,” added Dr. Hammam Haridy.

Implementing national vaccine strategies

"While scientific innovation is essential, the impact of maternal vaccines depends on effective implementation. 'True progress requires collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem - from raising awareness among providers to improving access through policy and addressing public misconceptions,' said Dr. Hammam Haridy. The recent ‘RISE: Respiratory Immunization Summit for Excellence’ by Pfizer brought together regional experts to spotlight the role of maternal vaccination in reducing the burden of RSV."