Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has given rise to the need to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible. As pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting severe COVID-19, with higher mortality, it is essential to assess the safety of the vaccines administered during pregnancy. Methods: The aim of this study was to determine the titer of specific maternal and cord antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 S protein after antenatal vaccination. The secondary objective was to evaluate the ratio of the umbilical cord to the maternal antibody titers. Patients included in the study were enrolled after undergoing voluntary vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy at different weeks of gestation. All patients analyzed in our initial study were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Results: The results of the current study document high anti-S total IgG antibody titers in cord serum at birth in all mother–infant pairs analyzed. The mean umbilical cord blood sample IgG antibody titer anti-S protein was 1026.51 U/mL (±SD 769.25). The mean cord-to-maternal anti–S IgG antibody ratio was 1.28 (±SD 0.798). A significant positive correlation was observed between the week of gestation at which the first dose was administered and the week of gestation at which the second dose was administered, and the respective cord-to-maternal ratio (r = 0.48; p = 0.0029) for the first dose and (r = 0.39; p = 0.0102) for the second dose. Conclusions: To date, despite the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccination, there is a lack of conclusive evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of vaccination of pregnant women. Therefore, the results we present are complementary. Our study suggests that maternal immunization may provide neonatal protection through the transplacental transfer of antibodies. Of particular importance is the demonstration that antibody transfer is correlated with the time from vaccination to delivery, which may allow future determination of the optimal timing of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has given rise to the need to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible. As pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting severe COVID-19, with higher mortality, it is essential to assess the safety of the vaccines administered during pregnancy. Methods The aim of this study was to determine the titer of specific maternal and cord antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 S protein after antenatal vaccination. The secondary objective was to evaluate the ratio of the umbilical cord to the maternal antibody titers. Patients included in the study were enrolled after undergoing voluntary vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy at different weeks of gestation. Their decision concerning vaccination was independent of the decision to participate in the present study. All patients analyzed in our initial study were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Results The results of the current study document high anti-S total antibody titers in cord serum at birth in all mother-infant pairs analyzed. Conclusions Our study suggests that maternal immunization may provide neonatal protection through transplacental transfer of antibodies.

Background and objectives: The shared pathogenesis of psoriasis and atherosclerosis may be determined by assaying the levels of endothelial activation molecules. This study aimed at evaluating vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin serum concentrations, and atherosclerosis severity in patients with plaque psoriasis. It also aimed to determine the effects of methotrexate/adalimumab treatment for 12 weeks on the plasma levels of the aforementioned molecules. Materials and Methods: The study included 34 psoriasis patients (17 treated with methotrexate and 17 treated with adalimumab) and eight controls. The 10-year risk of a fatal cardiovascular disease, body mass index, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and body surface area were calculated for each subject. VCAM-1 and E-selectin levels were determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: Baseline E-selectin and VCAM-1 levels were higher in the adalimumab group than in the methotrexate and control groups. VCAM-1 levels decreased in the adalimumab (p = 0.02) and methotrexate groups (p = 0.008), while E-selectin levels decreased in the methotrexate group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: The results indicate a correlation between systemic psoriasis treatment and E-selectin and VCAM-1 plasma concentrations, which may be associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease development.

The tolerance and safety of vaccination in pregnancy should be assessed in local populations based on ethnic differences across countries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the tolerability of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in pregnancy in a Polish population. An online questionnaire enquiring about the safety and tolerability of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was distributed to pregnant and non-pregnant female healthcare professionals who had voluntarily received one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Poland. The two groups were compared simultaneously considering the COVID-19 infection status before vaccination. Compared with that noted in the control group, pregnant women in the COVID-19-free group were less likely to have fever (p = 0.002) or gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.009) after the second dose. In the COVID-19-exposed group, pregnant women were less likely to experience local skin reactions (p = 0.009), and myalgia (p = 0.003) after the first dose. After the second dose, the only noticeable difference was a lower incidence of myalgia (p = 0.001) in pregnant women. The tolerability of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was similar in both the groups. No severe local, generalised, or pregnancy complications related to mother or foetus were observed. Good tolerability of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy in the Polish population may facilitate the decision to vaccinate pregnant women against COVID-19.