As a breastfeeding mom, it is not currently clear whether or not it’s safe for me to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer started a trial with pregnant women in late February, but we do not yet have the results. The emergency use vaccination process is rolling out very quickly, too quickly for data to be collected and analyzed. I understand the mission to lessen the severity of symptoms of a virus that’s causing a devastating global pandemic. Yet, that understanding does not stop me from questioning the vaccine rollout process.
I feel that there is simply not enough data (for me) about any of the emergency vaccines (mRNA or adenovirus vector) to understand the full spectrum of associated risk factors. Above and beyond risk, why are these vaccines not aimed at stopping transmission? It is essential that a vaccine help decrease the intensity of symptoms. For that, I am grateful.
As a nutritionist and herbalist in the health care field, I am concerned about the safety of barely studied vaccine technology. I own that I am a white-skinned woman with a great deal of privilege. I can work remotely as a nutritionist and my partner is a stay-at-home parent. I am extremely fortunate to have choice in this matter. Because I have the privilege to pause and reflect, I realize that I would not feel comfortable getting vaccinated if I were not breastfeeding.
Apparently, I am not the only one. A Kaiser Family Foundation study released in December 2020 found that 29% of health care workers would prefer to avoid getting the COVID-19 vaccine for as long as possible.
Cardiac surgeon Dr. Steven Noble is among many health care providers who would like to wait to see more data before getting vaccinated. Dr. Noble told Business Insider, “one of the issues that concerns me is that we just don’t have long-term data. The vaccine was supposed to be a three-year study, but somehow, we stopped it at six months and said, ‘You know what, this data is good enough.’”
“We live in a system of inequity, social determinants of health, and in a system of institutional racism that lends itself to not listening to BIPOC patients and even providers,” Dr. Noble said. “And the healthcare system doesn’t appear and respond appropriately. So with the vaccine, you’re going to have a hard time trying to convince the public, let alone healthcare providers that work within the system on a day-to-day basis.”
Why are health care workers (among others) so concerned about getting vaccinated? Let’s explore some of the potential outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination.
Pfizer BioNTech and Modena vaccines use polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a vehicle for getting the vaccine into human cells. For those who have antibodies to PEG (it is prevalent in shampoo, toothpaste, hair dye and household products) can have an anaphylactic response to the either of these vaccines. AstraZeneca and J&J/Janssen vaccines contain polysorbate 80 as an adjuvant to deliver the vaccine to cells, which poses a similar anaphylaxis risk.
Although mRNA vaccine technology is not new, it has never before been used clinically for human beings. Dr. Norbert Pardi, an mRNA pioneer, explained in 2018 that mRNA vaccine platforms are of great concern because of their interferon response. This response can trigger an autoimmune reaction in the recipient at any time, meaning that many folks could be trading immunity to COVID for an auto-immune disease in the future. People taking blood pressure medications, statins and antibiotics are at higher risk for this autoimmune response as are people who are obese, smoke, or already have an autoimmune disorder.
It is possible that adenoviral vector vaccines (like AstraZeneca and J&J/Janssen) could permanently alter the chromosomes of recipients, thus making them more susceptible to becoming ill when contracting the virus. In addition, once someone has contracted an adenovirus, like the one that causes the common cold, they contain T cells against that adenovirus. Those T cells could become triggered, or cross-reactive, when an individual is vaccinated with the adenoviral vector vaccines. We need more data to see how frequently this is happening.
The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a study showing that antibodies from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were found both in umbilical cord samples and in breastmilk samples. Is this a good thing? Potentially, unless these antibodies trigger autoimmune response. When considering adenoviral vector vaccines like AstraZeneca and J&J/Janssen, it is important to consider that a child’s immune system is still developing. While adults have antibodies to most adenoviruses (from having had multiple colds, for example), children do not. Exposure to these adenoviral vector vaccines in utero or through breastmilk could cause children to have more severe symptoms if they do contract COVID-19.
Beyond the absence of long-term data, the COVID-19 vaccinations that are currently being administered do not stop transmission. Especially during a global pandemic, would it not make sense to develop a vaccine that stops transmission of an incredibly contagious virus and its even more contagious variants?
Vaccines for illnesses such as measles, mumps, and rubella, stop the pathogen from causing an infection. Vaccines for other conditions, such as pneumococcal pneumonia, keep the pathogen from shedding through an infected patient. This action seems just as important as lessening the severity of symptoms.
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a clear statement in April 2020 directing pharmaceutical vaccine companies to focus on stopping the shedding and transmission of COVID-19 as well as reducing symptoms. Why did the pharmaceutical companies decide not to follow the WHO recommendations? Good question.
The bottom line is, we do not yet have enough data to deem whether or not these emergency use vaccines will become FDA approved once they are eligible. Luckily, we are not yet seeing any extreme adverse reactions to either the mRNA or the adenovirus vector vaccines. However, as I write this, we have been vaccinating folks for less than six months.
I hope to write a follow up article six months from now about how well everyone is tolerating COVID-19 vaccination. For now, I am sitting with the unknown and holding space for the best possible outcome for all.
Are you planning to get vaccinated? Vitamins A, B12, C and D and the minerals zinc, selenium, iron and copper are important for immune system function. Supplementing with these vitamins and minerals, specifically A, C, D and zinc can be helpful prior to vaccination. Dr. Elisa Song also recommends cutting out refined sugar, getting at least 8 hours of sleep, and practicing positive thinking for a week prior to vaccination.
When considering whether or not to get vaccinated, I encourage you to weigh your risk factors, both for adverse reactions related to vaccination and for long-term complications related to contracting COVID-19. This is a personal decision. Think about your loved ones and about public health as well. This vaccine protects you, not others. Vaccinated people must continue wearing masks, practicing physical distancing, and avoiding crowded indoor spaces.
I think that building and maintaining a strong immune system can offer me a great deal of protection and buy me some time until there is more data about these emergency use COVID-19 vaccines. If you would like to learn more about immunity and health, you can download my wellness checklist here.
