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Vaccination in Pregnancy against Pertussis: A Consensus Statement on Behalf of the Global Pertussis Initiative
Bahaa Abu-Raya1,2, Kevin Forsyth3, Scott A Halperin4
1BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada.
Insights
Vaccinating pregnant individuals against pertussis (whooping cough) is the best way to protect newborns. This strategy shields infants during their most vulnerable early months from severe illness and death.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Maternal and Child Health
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Infants face significant risks of severe illness and death from pertussis (whooping cough) in early life.
- Maternal immunization during pregnancy is a key strategy to provide passive immunity to newborns.
- Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy aims to protect infants before they can be directly immunized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of pertussis vaccination during pregnancy.
- To address outstanding scientific questions and provide consensus statements on this vaccination strategy.
- To inform public health recommendations and clinical practice regarding maternal pertussis immunization.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive review of existing and historical scientific literature on pertussis vaccination in pregnancy.
- Convening a meeting of the Global Pertussis Initiative to discuss and evaluate the evidence.
- Formulating consensus statements based on the reviewed literature and expert discussion.
Main Results:
- The review supports vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy as an effective method for infant protection.
- Key scientific literature confirms the benefits of maternal immunization for reducing infant pertussis.
- Consensus statements were developed addressing current evidence and knowledge gaps.
Conclusions:
- Vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy is a critical public health intervention.
- This strategy provides essential protection for infants against severe pertussis during their first months of life.
- Continued research and monitoring are important to optimize maternal immunization programs.
Abstract:
Infants are at high risk for severe morbidity and mortality from pertussis disease during early infancy. Vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy has emerged as the ideal strategy to protect infants during these early, vulnerable, first months of life. On 30 November and 1 December 2021, the Global Pertussis Initiative held a meeting that aimed to discuss and review the most up-to-date scientific literature supporting vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy and outstanding scientific questions. Herein, we review the current and historically published literature and summarize the findings as consensus statements on vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy on behalf of the Global Pertussis Initiative.
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