Meningococcal Vaccines and Breastfeeding

Summary of use during lactation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and several health professional organizations state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to meningococcal vaccine. Immunization of the mother during the third trimester of pregnancy markedly increases the amount of meningococcal antibodies in breastmilk.[1] Breastfed infants should be vaccinated according to the routine recommended schedules.[2-4]

Drug levels in milk and infant serum

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date. Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in breastfed infants

Limited data indicate that breastfeeding can enhance the response of the infant to certain vaccine antigens.[2,3,5] Immunization of pregnant or lactating women with meningococcal vaccine increased the specific secretory IgA content of milk.[6,7]

Effects on lactation and breastmilk

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

References

1. Maertens K, De Schutter S, Braeckman T, et al. Breastfeeding after maternal immunisation during pregnancy: Providing immunological protection to the newborn: A review. Vaccine 2014;32:1786-92.24530929 PubMed
2. Kroger A, Bahta L, Long S, et al. CDC. General Best Practices for Immunization. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/index.html
3. Kimberlin DW, Brady MT, Jackson MA, et al. Red Book: 2018 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 31st ed. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. 2018.
4. Gruslin A, Steben M, Halperin S, et al. Immunization in pregnancy: No. 220, December 2008. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2009;105:187-91.19367691 PubMed
5. Pabst HF. Immunomodulation by breast-feeding. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1997;16:991-5.9380478 PubMed
6. Lakshman R, Seymour L, Akhtar S, et al. Secretory antibody responses to quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine in lactating mothers. Clin Infect Dis 2000;31:321. doi:10.1093/cid/31.1.211
7. Shahid NS, Steinhoff MC, Roy E, et al. Placental and breast transfer of antibodies after maternal immunization with polysaccharide meningiococcal vaccine: A randomized, controlled evaluation. Vaccine 2002;20:2404-9.12009297 PubMed