Share

Pertussis vaccination during pregnancy seems safe

accreditation
iStock

Vaccinating pregnant women during their third trimester to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in their future offspring appears to be safe for both mother and child, new research suggests.

The findings – which may provide some reassurance to parents with general concerns about vaccination safety – are reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The new preliminary study explored the safety of the "Tdap" vaccine when offered before birth.

Whooping cough making a comeback

The investigation was prompted by the particular threat to infants posed by pertussis – commonly known as whooping cough – a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease that has recently made a comeback among American children.

Read: Sushi okay for pregnant moms?

About 90% of fatal cases of whooping cough occur among children under the age of 6 months, according to background information from the journal.

However, although the disease is preventable if vaccinated against, current recommendations advise that the "DTaP" vaccine – a different form of the vaccine used to prevent the same conditions – be offered only to infants at the ages of 2 months, 4 months and 6 months.

This leaves open a potential window of risk between the time of birth and the first dose of DTaP, in which the newborn infant is not protected.

To cope with that window, researchers focused on the notion of vaccinating pregnant women. In theory, this would prompt mothers-to-be into developing pertussis antibodies that would, in turn, protect the foetus and, ultimately, the newborn.

No unexpected adverse reactions

The research team, led by Dr Flor Munoz, at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, followed 48 pregnant women. Of these, 33 were given the Tdap vaccine during their third trimester. The other 15 received a placebo (sham) vaccine.

Read: Irregular vaccination increases pertussis risk

No unexpected adverse reactions were observed among the mothers who were inoculated, or among their children. In addition, growth and development was similar among infants whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy compared to those whose mothers were not, according to a journal news release.

Children born to mothers who were vaccinated while pregnant were found to have much higher levels of pertussis antibodies in their systems than children whose mothers weren't – both at birth and again at age 2 months – the time of each infant's own first inoculation.

The authors noted that further research will be needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. The new study findings will also be presented at the annual meeting of the Paediatric Academic Societies, held in Vancouver.


Read more:

When should you get a tetanus shot?
Thyroid disorders tied to complications in pregnancy


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE