Breastfeeding is not an alternative to infant vaccination, and it does not enhance the responses to vaccination. Breastfeeding provides some protection against many infections because special antibodies are made in the breast and are present in human breast milk. Babies who are breastfed generally have lower rates of many infections, including viral respiratory infections, ear infections and diarrhea. The protection provided by breast milk is incomplete and can be overcome if the baby is exposed to a large amount of a germ. Moreover, the protection disappears rapidly as soon as breastfeeding stops. Good nutrition helps the body's defences against infection to function normally. Infections are more severe in anyone with poor nutrition. Special immune cells called lymphocytes are easily damaged if one's diet does not include enough protein. For this reason, malnourished children are much more likely to die of infections such as measles or pertussis than well-nourished children. Vitamin A deficiency, in particular, greatly increases the risk of severe illness. The manufacturer of one brand of infant formula has recently claimed that its formula enhances the response to vaccination. This claim is based on the results of a single study of one of the Hib vaccines. Unless the same successful results are achieved with studies of other vaccines, there is no reason to pay extra for this special formula.

This document was published by the Canadian Paediatric society, 1997.

Posted by the Canadian Paediatric Society, July 1997.

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