The Floral study will give researchers more vital data onthe effect of the pandemic on the microbiome, allergies and social development
The Coral study, researching babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dublin, found they had improved gut microbes, lower infection rates, less antibiotic use, and lower rates of allergic conditions, likely due to extended breastfeeding and reduced social exposure. However, the same group showed slightly lower communication and language skills compared to pre-pandemic babies, attributed to limited socialization. A follow-up study, Floral, will compare these "pandemic babies" to a new cohort to assess if microbiome and developmental trends are reverting to pre-pandemic levels.
