[Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy: Security and effectiveness in the protection of the infant]

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Whooping cough (pertussis) remains a significant threat, especially to infants under six months.
• Current infant immunization schedules do not fully prevent early-life pertussis, leading to high mortality rates.
• Outbreaks occur globally despite existing vaccination programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and discuss the benefits of antenatal vaccination using the acellular pertussis component (Tdap) vaccine.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of maternal Tdap immunization.
• To assess its impact on reducing infant pertussis incidence and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and discussion of existing studies on antenatal Tdap vaccination.
• Analysis of data regarding antibody transfer from mother to infant.
• Examination of adverse effect profiles in pregnant women receiving Tdap.

Main Results:

• Antenatal Tdap vaccination effectively transfers high antibody levels to infants.
• This strategy reduces the incidence of pertussis in infants by 85%.
• No increased incidence of adverse effects was observed in vaccinated pregnant women.

Conclusions:

• Maternal immunization with Tdap is a safe and effective strategy.
• Promoting antenatal Tdap vaccination is crucial for preventing pertussis infection and mortality in infants under six months.
• This approach offers significant public health benefits by protecting vulnerable newborns.