Epidemiological and clinical reasons for vaccination against pertussis and influenza in pregnant women.
Vaccinations in pregnancy are an important aspect of prenatal care for improving both maternal health and neonatal outcomes. Despite the fact that protection against some infectious diseases for pregnant women can be easily provided through immunizations, current coverage rates are low. Two vaccines are notably recommended during pregnancy: influenza and the combined tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. In this review the authors discuss current recommendations for vaccination against pertussis and influenza in pregnant women in terms of epidemiological, clinical, and immunological reasons, taking into account safety and effectiveness. Promoting patients' awareness about pertussis and influenza and encouraging general practitioners, nurses and obstetricians to recommend the pertussis booster and influenza vaccine will hopefully increase the number of pregnant women who choose to become vaccinated.
Department of Family Medicine, Warsaw Medical University, Banacha St. 1A, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland, anitsch@amwaw.edu.pl.
Aneta
A
Nitsch-Osuch
Krzysztof
K
Korzeniewski
Maciej
M
Gawlak
Katarzyna
K
Życińska
Kazimierz
K
Wardyn
Ernest
E
Kuchar
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D010567:Pertussis Vaccine