title: Vaccines in pregnant women and research initiatives.
abstract: Successful maternal immunization requires consideration of maternal and infant disease burden, biological factors affecting immune response and placental transport of antibodies, optimal timing of immunization, safety and acceptability. Tetanus, inactivated influenza and acellular pertussis vaccines are recommended during pregnancy; others are recommended when maternal risk of infection is high. The development of new conjugate vaccines for use in adults may reduce global maternal and infant disease burden. Maternal immunization against group B streptococcus is projected to be superior to current preventative strategies in decreasing disease. Further evaluation of maternal immunization strategies to prevent maternal and infant infections is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, and Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. chealy@bcm.edu
authors.forename: C Mary
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Healy
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007112:Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012106:Research; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000276:immunology; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid
chemical_list: D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D022541:Streptococcal Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid