COVID-19 transmission from mothers to newborns found to be 'extremely low', according to study by 3 Singapore hospitals
Only four infants contracted coronavirus after birth from 371 women who were diagnosed COVID-19 while pregnant
SINGAPORE — COVID-19 transmission from mothers to their newborns was found to be "extremely low", in a recent study conducted by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH).
The study, which involved 371 women who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy, found that only four infants (1.1 per cent) were diagnosed with COVID-19 after birth. Among these, three were born from COVID-19 vaccinated mothers, while one was born to an unvaccinated mother.
Vaccinated pregnant women infected with COVID-19 were found to have milder disease effects and were less likely to require intensive care, compared to infected unvaccinated pregnant women.
The study also found that pregnant women infected with the Omicron variant had milder symptoms and were less likely to require intensive care or need mechanical ventilation, compared to those infected with non-Omicron variants. Newborns of pregnant women infected with the Omicron variant were also less likely to require intensive care.
Why is transmission low?
Yeo Kee Thai, senior consultant of KKH's department of neonatology, said the study results are likely due to a higher vaccination rate among pregnant individuals. This also accounts for the relatively lower incidence of moderate to severe symptoms, and lesser need for interventions in vaccinated pregnant women who were infected with COVID-19.
“Our study assures expectant parents and healthcare professionals that COVID-19 transmission from mother to baby is extremely low. In comparison to international reports, the incidence of transmission is also at a much lower rate," Yeo added.
"Pregnant women remain a vulnerable group susceptible to severe outcomes from SARS-CoV-2. Hence, it is crucial that our pregnant women keep up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination, to keep their families safe."
About the study
The study took place from December 2019 to February 2022, from initial identification of the coronavirus to the emergence of the Omicron variant in late 2021. Based on the timing of the infections and reported circulating variants, the identified variants were Wild-type (2.2 per cent), Alpha (0.8 per cent), Delta (18.1 per cent) and Omicron (79.9 per cent).
As COVID-19 vaccination was only made available to pregnant women in June 2021, research participants were categorised into vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. Among 353 pregnant women who provided their COVID-19 vaccination status, 278 (78.8 per cent) had received one or more vaccination dose before or during their pregnancy, while 75 (21.2 per cent) were unvaccinated.
The study is part of KKH's ongoing efforts to build evidence-based perspectives, addressing the limited studies on COVID-19 in Singapore and Asia. A previous study led by KKH found that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy was up to 44 per cent effective in protecting infants from infection, for up to six months after birth.
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