New vaccines being tested could protect fetuses from Zika

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In the fight against Zika, there’s promising news for pregnant women.

Several vaccines are being tested to determine if they will protect fetuses from the Zika virus.

Doctors at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found that a vaccine protected fetuses from infection and birth defects associated with Zika. So far, the researchers have only conducted testing on mice.

“A vaccine that could prevent, that would be a tremendous benefit and advance,” said Mobeen Rathore, past president of Duval County Medical Society.

The female mice were vaccinated before they became pregnant and then were exposed to the virus while pregnant. According to the study, more than 90 percent of those mice vaccinated were born disease-free.

“Considering the short period of time they have been working on this situation, it is a significant advance,” Rathore said.

The vaccine is still in its early stages of testing, and it could take several more years before they know if it will work on humans.

“It’s still an animal model, the vaccine has to be developed, has to be safe and effective in the human population,” Rathore said.

But it’s the first time a vaccine has been shown to protect a fetus.

“This is hope not only for women, but for children,” Rathore said.

The CDC says it's still seeing about 30-40 new Zika cases in pregnant women each week in the U.S.
Locally, there have been two cases in St. Johns – but both were travel related.

Cox Media Group