Vaccination in pregnancy (ViP): protecting two persons with one shot

Vaccination in pregnancy has quietly become one of the most powerful tools we have to protect both mothers and their infants in the first months of life. During this period, infants are highly vulnerable to severe infections, yet their own immune system is immature, and routine immunizations have only just begun. Vaccination in Pregnancy (ViP) bridges this gap: vaccine-induced IgG is actively transferred across the placenta, and IgA in breast milk further reinforces mucosal protection in early life. Together, these mechanisms have been documented to provide relevant protection for roughly the first 6 months, until the infant’s own immune responses can more effectively take over.  Why vaccination in pregnancy works Pregnancy reshapes the immune system tolerate the fetus, at the price of increased susceptibility and often more severe courses of certain infections such as influenza, COVID19, and others. At the same time, the placenta offers a unique opportunity: FcRn-mediated active transport of...