DOES COVID-19 INFECTION AND/OR VACCINATION OF PREGNANT WOMEN AFFECT THE PANCREATIC BETA CELLS OF THE FETUS BECOMING A TRIGGER FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDHOOD TYPE 1 DIABETES

T1D is caused by an autoimmune reaction to proteins that cause the destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. The incidence of childhood Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is continuously increasing, caused by environmental factors, mainly viruses (1).

The most implicated viruses are coxsackie B4 (2) and rotaviruses (3,4). In the past mumps and rubella viruses gave been found to cause early childhood T1D and the introduction of mumps and rubella vaccination have stopped this process (5).

Recently we (6) and others (7-9) have shown that Rotavirus vaccination to infants attenuates the incidence of T1D in children aged 0-5 (in press). Covid-19 has not yet been investigated.

Aim of study To determine whether anti-Covid-19 antibodies generated by infection and/or vaccination of pregnant mothers, pass the placenta and affect the fetal beta-cells, by damaging or protecting these insulin producing cells.

Subjects 100 pregnant women with Covid-19 infection or vaccination who are followed and delivered at the Mayanei HaYeshua Medical Center will be enrolled in the study.