Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Public Health
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) is re-emerging, with young infants experiencing the highest rates of infection, complications, and mortality.
• Infants are primarily infected by older individuals with waning immunity, and previous strategies like caregiver immunization have shown limited success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of maternal pertussis vaccination during pregnancy for infant protection.
• To highlight the importance of maternal immunization in preventing infant pertussis morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies assessing the safety and immunogenicity of acellular pertussis vaccines in pregnant women.
• Analysis of antibody transfer from mother to infant and the effectiveness of this strategy in preventing infant pertussis.

Main Results:

• Vaccinating pregnant women with acellular pertussis vaccine is safe for both mother and infant.
• Maternal vaccination leads to efficient transfer of antibodies to infants, providing protection until their primary immunization series.
• This approach has demonstrated effectiveness in preventing pertussis in young infants.

Conclusions:

• Maternal pertussis vaccination during pregnancy is a promising strategy to protect vulnerable infants from whooping cough.
• Improving vaccine uptake among pregnant women, with provider recommendation being key, is crucial for success.
• Ongoing research aims to optimize vaccination timing and strategies to further reduce infant pertussis cases globally.