A recent animal study published in Neurochemical Research has raised concerns about the potential effects of the Pfizer COVID vaccine on the neurodevelopment of offspring. The study, which involved pregnant rats being given the COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine, found that male pups born after vaccination displayed “autism-like” traits.
The researchers set out to evaluate the impact of COVID vaccination during pregnancy on the gene expression, neurobehavioral outcomes, and neuropathology of rat offspring. They compared the results with a control group of rats injected with a harmless saline solution.
To their dismay, the scientists discovered significant disturbances in the neurodevelopment of pups born to vaccinated mothers. These included a decrease in neuronal counts, a marked reduction in social interaction, and abnormal, repetitive patterns of behavior. The study authors appropriately referred to these behaviors as “autism-like.”
To evaluate sociability and novelty tolerance, well-accepted tests of rat development were used. Male pups affected by the COVID vaccine during gestation exhibited abnormal fear of socialization and actively avoided novel situations. These findings further support the characterization of the observed maladjustments as “autism-like.”
