title: Maternal immunization to benefit the mother, fetus, and infant.
abstract: Pregnant women are at risk for the same infectious diseases as nonpregnant individuals and often have increased morbidity and mortality associated with infection. Thus, immunizing women during pregnancy with recommended vaccines provides direct maternal benefit. Furthermore, maternal immunization has the potential for both fetal and infant benefit by preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes and infection during early life through passive immunity. This article reviews current knowledge on the importance and benefits of maternal immunization, which are 3-fold: protecting the mother from antepartum infection; reducing poor pregnancy and fetal outcomes; and providing immunity for infants during the first few months of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA. Electronic address: geeta.swamy@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Geeta K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Swamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia-Putnam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D009035:Mothers; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Influenza; Maternal immunization; Passive immunity; Pertussis; Tetanus