Can breastfeeding women be vaccinated against Sars-CoV-2?

As previously envisaged in the interim guidance by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità – ISS (Italian National Institute of Health), breastfeeding women may get vaccinated, without any need to stop breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding women should be informed that vaccination will not expose their infant to any risks, and that infants will receive antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 through mother’s milk.

Infants breastfed by a vaccinated mother will follows their vaccination schedule without any changes.

Other behavioral measures

All pregnant and breastfeeding women, regardless of whether they choose to be vaccinated or not, are advised to observe the following preventive measures:

- hand hygyene

- use of masks in closed environments and when around other individuals who are not members of one’s household or are not vaccinated

- practice physical distancing

- ventilation of indoor space