The authors of the study examined 11 “lactating individuals,” after getting either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA shots.
Nine of them were white, one black, and one Asian.
Five of the participants “had detectable vaccine mRNA in their breast milk.”
Three of them took the Pfizer shots and two of them took Moderna’s.
The mothers, aged between 22 and 37, got vaccinated between 4 to 25 weeks after delivery.
The authors used a technique called 2-step quantitative reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction.
The publication came as a surprise to Dr. Christiane Northrup, a former fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“Despite the fact that we have world-class researchers and scientists involved in our group, the results of our research have repeatedly been turned down by mainstream journals such as the British Medical Journal. So we were very surprised that this study urging caution about the effects of COVID shots on breast milk managed to get published in such a mainstream medical journal,” Northrup added.
Is It Safe or Not?
The results of the study showed between 1.3 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL) to 16.78 pg/mL of vaccine mRNA was detected. The detection limit was 1 pg/mL.A picogram is one-trillionth of a gram, and a gram is about 1/30 of an ounce.
Dr. Nazeeh Hanna, the lead author of the study, told The Epoch Times via email that “It is most likely safe after maternal vaccination. However, to be cautious, don’t breastfeed for two days after the vaccine and then go back to normal.”
“I wouldn’t be worried by this myself, but the authors note that anyone who is might prefer to be ‘cautious’ (I guess pump and dump?) for 48h after vaccination,” she says on another social media post.
Dr. James Thorp, a maternal-fetal medicine expert commented extensively on the study.
The ‘Real Impact’
Hanna pointed out that “the real impact is what was stated in the discussion,” referring to the following paragraph:“These data demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge the biodistribution of COVID-19 vaccine mRNA to mammary cells and the potential ability of tissue EVs (extracellular vesicles) to package the vaccine mRNA that can be transported to distant cells. Little has been reported on lipid nanoparticle biodistribution and localization in human tissues after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. In rats, up to 3 days following intramuscular administration, low vaccine mRNA levels were detected in the heart, lung, testis, and brain tissues, indicating tissue biodistribution. We speculate that, following the vaccine administration, lipid nanoparticles containing the vaccine mRNA are carried to mammary glands via hematogenous and/or lymphatic routes,” the study reads.
Earlier in September, The Epoch Times asked the FDA to provide studies/data that the FDA cites to recommend the COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, for women who are breastfeeding.
The FDA did not respond to the follow-up email.
“It is an axiom of medicine that one never gives pregnant or lactating women any new drug or therapy that has not been thoroughly tested over many years. Giving pregnant or lactating women a fast-tracked injection for an infection with a survival rate of 99 percent goes against common sense,” Northrup further noted.
The Epoch Times reached out to Pfizer, Moderna, the FDA, and CDC for comment.