Is Pneumococcal Vaccines safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Pneumococcal Vaccines. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Limited data indicate that breastfeeding can enhance the response of the infant to certain vaccine antigens.[ 1 , 5 ] Immunization of pregnant women with pneumococcal vaccine increased the specific secretory IgA content of milk and colostrum.[ 6 - 11 ] These antibodies in colostrum help inhibit epithelial adhesion of pneumococci to pharyngeal epithelial cells.[ 6 ] Some evidence of decreased pneumococcal disease has been found among breastfed infants of vaccinated mothers.[ 11 ] Infants breastfed for longer than 90 days have a better antibody response to some pneumococcal strains in the vaccine at 13 months of age than those breastfed less than 90 days.[ 12 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A study followed mothers who received the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. It found that mothers who received the vaccination during pregnancy or within 72 hours postpartum had sIgA and IgG in their breastmilk that persisted for at least 7 months postpartum.[ 4 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.