Vaccination with inactivated influenza A virus during pregnancy protects neonatal mice against lethal challenge by influenza A viruses representing three subtypes.

A single intraperitoneal injection of pregnant mice with a monovalent Formalin-inactivated influenza A virus vaccine protected their offspring against a lethal challenge dose of the same influenza A virus H3N2, H2N2, and H1N1 subtypes, as well as against challenge with the other two subtypes. Degree of protection was vaccine dose related. Cross-fostering of neonates indicated that protection was conferred by breast milk antibodies. Serum virus-specific neutralizing antibodies in the mothers and neonates correlated with resistance to vaccine virus, but were detected against other subtypes only in a complement enhancement test or when high doses of vaccine were given.