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The case for maternal vaccination against pertussis

Frits R Mooi1, Sabine C de Greeff

  • 1Laboratory for Infectious Diseases and Perinatal Screening, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands. fr.mooi@rivm.nl

The Lancet. Infectious Diseases
|June 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Maternal pertussis vaccination can protect infants too young to be vaccinated. This strategy may decrease infant illness and death from pertussis, especially with rising disease incidence.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) incidence is rising globally, particularly in unvaccinated infants.
  • Infants too young for vaccination face the highest risk of pertussis complications and death.
  • Existing pertussis vaccines have high coverage but are not preventing widespread outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate maternal vaccination as a strategy to protect infants against pertussis.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of maternal pertussis immunization.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on maternal vaccination with whole-cell pertussis vaccines.
  • Analysis of antibody transfer and infant protection data from previous research.
  • Assessment of adverse effects in mothers and infants.

Main Results:

  • Maternal vaccination with whole-cell pertussis vaccines showed no serious adverse effects in mothers or infants.
  • Studies indicated protection of newborn infants following maternal immunization.
  • Evidence suggests antibody transfer from mother to infant confers protection against pertussis.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal pertussis vaccination is a potentially effective method to safeguard newborns.
  • This approach can reduce infant morbidity and mortality from pertussis.
  • Further research supports maternal immunization for infant protection against pertussis.

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