Babies born naturally may have advantage in response to childhood vaccines, researchers say

BOSTON – Naturally born babies may have an advantage when it comes to responding to childhood vaccines.

A baby’s gut microbiota develops in the first few weeks of life, seeded with bacteria as they pass through the birth canal, and can affect the baby’s initial response to vaccines.

european researchers We studied 101 babies who received routine vaccines against lung infections and meningitis.

They found that vaginal deliveries had higher levels of antibodies in saliva compared to those delivered by caesarean section.

Perhaps in the future, babies born by cesarean section will be replenished with vital bacteria shortly after birth, revitalizing their microbiome and being able to boost their immune response to vaccines.

Marika Marshall, M.D.

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and physician who has been a HealthWatch reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A board-certified practitioner in both internal medicine and pediatrics, Dr. Marshall has served on the staff of her Harvard Medical School, MGH Chelsea, and has practiced at Argent He Care’s Massachusetts General Hospital and her MGH Revere Health Center. and is now on the front line of care. For patients with COVID-19. She is also the host and contributing editor of Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing arm of the Harvard Medical School.