Benzinga | Mar 17, 2021 12:40PM EDT

Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination Could Protect Pregnant Women, Newborns, Study In Israel Suggests: Reuters

According to a small study conducted in Israel, pregnant women vaccinated against COVID-19 could pass along protection to their babies, Reuters reported.

* In the research conducted in February, antibodies were detected in all 20 women who got both doses of the Pfizer Inc (NYSE) / BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) vaccine during their third trimester of pregnancy and in their newborns through placental transfer.

* "Our findings highlight that vaccination of pregnant women may provide maternal and neonatal protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection," the study said.

* The authors noted the small size of the study and said further research was necessary to measure the effect of vaccination at different stages of pregnancy.

* Pfizer/BioNTech said last month they had started a 4,000-volunteer international study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine in healthy pregnant women.

* The trial will also assess whether vaccinated pregnant women transfer protective antibodies to their babies.

* Price Action: PFE shares are down 0.03% at $35.82, and BNTX shares were trading 2.8% lower at $105.08 in market trading hours on the last check Wednesday.