Breastfeeding May Confer Long-Term Immunity Against Emerging Infectious Pathogens—Ecological Evidence over 2 Full Years of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Georgia, United States

Breastfeeding Medicine 2026

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Authors: Joanne Chopak‐Foss, Victoria Roy, Christopher Turner, Hunter Martin, Charles Barton, Tori Defoe, Felix Twum, Arshpreet Kaur Mallhi, Chigozie Ogwara, Keagan Kiely, Andrew R. Hansen, Jian Zhang
DOI: 10.1177/15568253261450169
Cited by: 1
References: 28

Abstract

Objective: Long-term immunity acquired maternally against infectious pathogens has been reported in animal studies, but epidemiological evidence remains lacking. To assess long-term maternal immunity in humans against infectious pathogens, we examined COVID-19 disease burden in communities with varying breastfeeding practices. Methods: Using data from 159 counties in Georgia, the United States, from March 1, 2020, through February 28, 2022, we calculated the daily incidence, mortality, and fatality rates of COVID-19 and estimated rate ratios (RRs) in counties with low (

Fields of Study & Subjects

COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy Breastfeeding Practices and Influences

Publication details

Journal / source
Breastfeeding Medicine
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Volume
21
Issue
6
Pages
303–311
Publication date
23 May 2026
Language
EN