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Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus
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Intranasal Immunization and Milk Collection in Studies of Maternal Immunization in New Zealand White Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus

Published on: July 31, 2021

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Antenatal immunization

Chrissie Jones1, Paul Heath

  • 1a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (PIDRG); St George's, University of London; London, UK.

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
|November 27, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vaccination boosts antibodies, protecting infants from serious infections until they can be immunized. Despite safety concerns, the benefits of vaccinating during pregnancy outweigh the minimal risks, safeguarding both mother and child.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and Public Health
  • Maternal and Infant Health

Background:

  • Pregnancy and infancy involve immune suppression, increasing vulnerability to infections with high morbidity and mortality.
  • Infants face elevated risks of invasive diseases, with incidence rates of 100 per 100,000 population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the rationale, concepts, and mechanisms behind maternal vaccination strategies.
  • To assess the safety of vaccination during pregnancy and address associated challenges.
  • To evaluate the protective benefits of maternal immunization for infants.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on maternal vaccination.
  • Analysis of safety data and challenges in assessing vaccine safety in pregnant women.
  • Discussion of immunological principles of passive antibody transfer.

Main Results:

  • Maternal vaccination aims to transfer pathogen-specific antibodies to the infant, providing passive immunity.
  • Safety assessments indicate that risks from disease significantly outweigh the minimal risks of vaccination during pregnancy.
  • Vaccination during pregnancy is a viable strategy for preventing serious infections in mothers and infants.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal vaccination offers a crucial method for protecting vulnerable infants before they can be immunized.
  • The safety profile supports vaccination, with disease risks being a greater concern than vaccine risks.
  • This approach presents a novel platform for enhancing protection against severe infections in early life.

Keywords:
antenatalimmunisationinfantinfectious diseasematernalpregnancyvaccination

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